WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI made an arrest on Thursday in its nearly five-year-long investigation into the placement of pipe bombs in Washington on the eve of the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol, according to a law enforcement official. This arrest is the first indication that investigators have identified a potential suspect in a case that has perplexed law enforcement and fueled various conspiracy theories.
The arrest occurred on Thursday morning. Although the official was not authorized to provide public details about the case, it was confirmed that the suspect is a man and more information on the charges he may face is pending.
The pipe bombs were discovered on January 5, 2021, located near the Democratic and Republican national committee offices in Washington, D.C. Fortunately, no injuries occurred as the bombs were safely neutralized, but the FBI has indicated that they had the potential to cause significant harm.
Since the event, the FBI has solicited assistance from the public in identifying a shadowy figure captured on surveillance cameras, struggling for years to discern the suspect's details, including gender and motive, and whether the act was related to the subsequent Capitol riot where Trump supporters attempted to halt the certification of Joe Biden's election.
In a bid to locate the suspect, the FBI publicized new information last January, estimating the suspect's height to be around 5-foot-7 and releasing previously unseen footage of the incident.
Despite the extensive investigation, which involved handling hundreds of tips and analyzing tens of thousands of video files, law enforcement struggled to uncover any solid leads until this recent development.
This breakthrough comes amid a backdrop of conspiracy theories promoted by some Republican lawmakers and conservative media channels, who speculated about security failures and even suggested the incidents were staged or involved internal collusion. The current FBI deputy director has since emphasized the investigation's priority and the actions taken to enhance its progress, vowing to pursue any leads that emerge from this case.
The arrest occurred on Thursday morning. Although the official was not authorized to provide public details about the case, it was confirmed that the suspect is a man and more information on the charges he may face is pending.
The pipe bombs were discovered on January 5, 2021, located near the Democratic and Republican national committee offices in Washington, D.C. Fortunately, no injuries occurred as the bombs were safely neutralized, but the FBI has indicated that they had the potential to cause significant harm.
Since the event, the FBI has solicited assistance from the public in identifying a shadowy figure captured on surveillance cameras, struggling for years to discern the suspect's details, including gender and motive, and whether the act was related to the subsequent Capitol riot where Trump supporters attempted to halt the certification of Joe Biden's election.
In a bid to locate the suspect, the FBI publicized new information last January, estimating the suspect's height to be around 5-foot-7 and releasing previously unseen footage of the incident.
Despite the extensive investigation, which involved handling hundreds of tips and analyzing tens of thousands of video files, law enforcement struggled to uncover any solid leads until this recent development.
This breakthrough comes amid a backdrop of conspiracy theories promoted by some Republican lawmakers and conservative media channels, who speculated about security failures and even suggested the incidents were staged or involved internal collusion. The current FBI deputy director has since emphasized the investigation's priority and the actions taken to enhance its progress, vowing to pursue any leads that emerge from this case.
