Brian Cole, a 30-year-old resident of Woodbridge, Virginia, has been identified by the FBI as the suspect behind the alleged pipe bomb threat near Capitol Hill. This development has sent ripples through his quiet neighborhood, where Cole was known as a reclusive figure.

Neighbors described Cole, who was arrested on suspicion of planning attacks on Washington, D.C., on the eve of the January 6, 2021, riots, as a solitary individual. He was often seen in the neighborhood, but only during his routine walks with his pet Chihuahua.

Those familiar with Cole shared with CNN that he maintained a low profile, typically observed wearing headphones while out and about. His attire, notably consistent regardless of the weather, featured shorts and a pair of distinctive red Crocs.

One neighbor, speaking to The New York Post, recalled frequent conversations about his unusual choice in clothing, especially during colder months. “We would always just comment, ‘Like, how is he in shorts?'” the neighbor remarked, highlighting Cole’s peculiar presence in the community.

They noted that he would take the dog out in all types of weather while wearing shorts and a pair red Crocs. 

One longtime neighbor also told The New York Post: ‘We would always just comment, “Like, how is he in shorts?” 

‘It’s 20 degrees out in his red Crocs, walking his dog all winter long. We all knew him as the guy that walked the Chihuahua.’

An arrest affidavit released soon after his arrest said that he lived at home with his mother and worked as a bail bondsman.

The calm of the leafy suburb was disturbed on Thursday when two Humvees loaded with SWAT teams in camouflage and carrying rifles raided his home, nabbing Cole. 

Cole, pictured here, was identified by the FBI on Thursday as the suspect in the planned attacks on DC

Police block the street near the house where the FBI arrested Cole, in Woodbridge

Cole was charged with laying explosives outside the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters, which did not detonate. 

The arrest marks the first major breakthrough in the five-year investigation that had baffled the agency and sparked a wave of conspiracy theories. 

His arrest came after the FBI offered a $500,000 reward for leads to identify the suspect. 

Authorities shared previously unreleased footage of the perp stalking the streets of Washington DC the night before the infamous riots. 

Cole’s arrest was reportedly not the result of a new breakthrough in the investigation, but came after the FBI reviewed existing evidence it had collected in 2021 and 2022. 

Sources said that Cole’s arrest may cause embarrassment for the Bureau because they’d had all the information necessary to arrest him for close to five years. 

Video showed the hooded suspect setting down a backpack on South Capitol Street, before putting on glasses and scanning their surroundings for witnesses and leaving. 

The suspect then walked to the nearby DNC headquarters, where a bomb was placed at 7:54pm. 

Authorities shared previously unreleased footage of the perp stalking the streets of Washington DC the night before the infamous riots in the weeks before Cole’s arrest

The bombs were made of threaded galvanized pipes, kitchen timers and homemade black powder. One of the planted devices is pictured above 

Surveillance then showed the suspect walking to the RNC headquarters and placing a bomb at 8:16pm. 

The suspect wore a face mask, glasses, a grey hooded sweatshirt, gloves, and black and light grey Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes with a yellow logo. 

The explosive devices planted outside the two buildings in the Capitol Hill neighborhood were located the next day. 

Hours later hordes of Donald Trump supporters descended on Washington DC to protest the 2020 election results. 

US Capitol Police and agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were called to the RNC’s office at 12.45pm.

About 30 minutes later, as the agents and bomb technicians were still investigating at the RNC, another call came in for a similar explosive device found at the DNC.

The bombs were rendered safe, and no one was hurt.

Officials said the homemade bombs were constructed out of threaded galvanized pipes, kitchen timers and homemade black powder. 

Cole will make an initial appearance inside a DC federal court later today as he is formally arraigned on charges of planting the bombs.