In a renewed effort to solve one of the lingering mysteries from January 5, 2021, the FBI has released new surveillance footage of the individual believed to have planted pipe bombs near the Democratic and Republican National Committee offices. Accompanying this release, officials have reiterated a substantial reward of $500,000 for any information leading to the arrest of the suspect.
The FBI’s statement on X highlighted the ongoing urgency of the investigation: “We are still offering a $500,000 reward for tips that help identify the person responsible for placing pipe bombs at these critical political locations. In an effort to advance our investigation, we are unveiling an updated video featuring previously unseen footage, enhanced video quality, and extended clips of the suspect’s activity.”
This newly released footage offers a more comprehensive view of the suspect’s actions on the night preceding the infamous Capitol riot. It captures the individual, who is seen carrying a backpack, as they strategically plant explosive devices outside the headquarters of both major political parties between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m., before vanishing into the Washington, D.C. night.
From the footage, the FBI has described the suspect as approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall. The individual was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, black gloves, and notably distinctive Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes with a yellow logo. Their face was concealed by a mask as they moved through the city with the explosive-laden backpack.
The suspect was observed traversing Capitol Hill neighborhoods during the critical timeframe of 7:34 p.m. to 8:18 p.m. They were first spotted in the vicinity of 1st Street and North Carolina Avenue SE, making a brief stop on South Capitol Street to place a backpack, which is believed to have contained one of the explosive devices.
This surveillance footage, now shared by the FBI, captures the suspect navigating through a Capitol Hill neighborhood with the backpack thought to harbor one of the pipe bombs on that pivotal night of January 5, 2021.
The individual later sat on a bench outside the DNC headquarters, where video shows the first explosive device being placed around 7:54 p.m.
The suspect is seen walking outside the Democratic National Committee headquarters moments before placing one of two pipe bombs discovered near party offices in Washington, D.C. (FBI)
The suspect then continued toward the RNC headquarters, where the second device was planted at 8:16 p.m., before vanishing from view moments later.
In January, the FBI renewed its focus on the unsolved case by releasing new video footage of the suspect, and in May, Deputy Director Dan Bongino told “Fox & Friends” he was “pretty confident” the agency was closing in on suspects.
The second device was planted at 8:16 p.m. outside the RNC headquarters, authorities said. (FBI)
Investigators say they have followed hundreds of leads, reviewed thousands of video files and conducted more than 1,000 interviews.
Bongino emphasized the importance of public involvement and said social media is a vital tool for generating new case leads.
Although no one was injured in the 2021 pipe bomb incident, authorities say the attack could have been deadly.
Then-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris was inside the DNC’s offices when the pipe bomb was discovered. Then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., also passed by the bomb before it was discovered and safely removed by authorities.
