Suspect confessed he planted 6 Jan pipe bombs, prosecutors say

December 29, 2025

Brian Cole Jr. , a 30-year-old man, has confessed to planting pipe bombs outside both the Republican and Democratic Party headquarters in Washington, DC on January 5, 2021, the night before the Capitol riot. After initially denying involvement following his December 2024 arrest, Cole admitted during interrogation that he assembled the improvised explosive devices using instructions from YouTube videos and video games, stating he wanted to "speak up" for people concerned about election integrity.

Who is affected

Brian Cole Jr., 30, who faces federal charges
The Republican and Democratic Party national headquarters
Federal law enforcement agents and prosecutors
People present near the headquarters locations on January 5, 2021
Brian Cole Jr.'s legal defense team

What action is being taken

Prosecutors are presenting evidence against Mr. Cole in court filings
The legal case is proceeding through the court system (Mr. Cole has not yet entered a plea)

Why it matters

This case resolves a five-year mystery surrounding pipe bombs planted during one of the most significant security incidents in recent American history. The confession reveals that the attack targeted both major political parties and could have resulted in deaths or serious injuries had the devices detonated. The case also highlights concerns about how individuals can learn to construct explosives from online resources and the potential for politically-motivated violence against party institutions, even from those claiming to act outside partisan motivations.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC