• FBI arrests Brian Cole Jr., marking a breakthrough in a five-year investigation.
• The pipe bombs were planted outside the DNC and RNC headquarters on January 5, 2021.
• The arrest could lead to additional charges as the investigation continues.

The FBI has made a significant breakthrough in its investigation into the placement of pipe bombs near the Democratic and Republican headquarters on the eve of the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, by arresting 30-year-old Brian Cole Jr. from Virginia. This arrest marks the first time authorities have identified a suspect in a case that has stymied investigators for nearly five years, highlighting challenges in addressing political violence in the U.S., according to CBS News and LA Times.

The incident involved two pipe bombs, which were planted on the night of January 5, 2021, and were capable of causing severe harm but did not detonate. FBI officials confirmed the devices were viable and presented a serious threat to public safety. The ghosts of this incident have lingered as conspiracy theories surrounding the event have flourished in the absence of clarity, reports South China Morning Post and Al Jazeera.

Cole is facing charges of interstate transportation of an explosive device and attempted destruction using explosive materials, with more charges potentially forthcoming, adds Le Monde. The investigation continues as authorities examine whether the act had political motivations, a point that remains unclear amidst ongoing inquiries.

The FBI had long sought public assistance, offering a reward of $500,000 for information leading to an arrest, as investigations yielded no solid leads for years. Authorities released surveillance footage of a masked individual planting the bombs, intensifying the mystery surrounding the events leading up to the Capitol riot. Cole's arrest was not driven by any new evidence but was the result of diligent forensic work previously overlooked, remarked FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino in his comments, highlighting the agency's commitment to resolving such serious crimes, according to LA Times and CBS News.