The FBI released a new video of the suspect who planted pipe bombs outside the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee offices in Washington, D.C. on January 5, 2021. The suspect is believed to be about 5-foot, 7-inches tall. A $500,000 reward is still available for tips that lead to an arrest. The attempted attack occurred on the eve of the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, but there is no clear link between the two events. The FBI continues to search for the suspect three years after the incident.
Without being able to confirm the suspect’s identity, it is challenging to establish a motive definitively. David Sundberg, an assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Washington field office, stated that it would be difficult to determine if there is a link between the bomb planting and the U.S. Capitol riot. Investigators are unsure if the suspect is a man or a woman. The suspect was described as wearing a grey hoodie, face mask, black gloves, and Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes. The FBI hopes that someone might recognize these distinctive features to help identify the suspect.
The FBI has received over 600 tips, reviewed about 39,000 video files, and conducted more than 1,000 interviews over the past four years in an attempt to solve the case. The new video shows the suspect placing the first bomb near a bench outside the Democratic National Committee building just before 8 p.m. The second bomb was placed in an alley behind the Republican National Committee building at around 8:16 p.m. The suspect was last seen in surveillance footage walking past D.C. houses wearing a backpack believed to have been used to transport the pipe bombs.
The FBI believes that there is someone out there who has information about the suspect that they have not realized was significant until now. The bureau is urging the public to come forward and share any information they may have with the FBI. The attempted attack did not result in any injuries, and the bombs were safely deactivated. However, the potential consequences could have been deadly. Vice President Kamala Harris and then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were near the DNC office when the first bomb was found and rendered safe on the afternoon of January 6. The investigation is ongoing, and the FBI remains committed to solving the case.
