After nearly five years of mystery, the January 6 pipe bomber has a name: Brian Cole Jr., a 30-year-old from Woodbridge, Virginia. On December 4, 2025, FBI agents arrested Cole at his family home, charging him with planting two live pipe bombs outside the Democratic and Republican headquarters in Washington, D.C., on the night before the Capitol riot.
This long-awaited breakthrough ends one of the most frustrating unsolved cases tied to January 6, 2021, and answers thousands of searches for “DC pipe bomber arrested,” “who is Brian Cole Jr.,” and “Jan 6 pipe bomb suspect.”
Who Is Brian Cole Jr.? Everything We Know About the Woodbridge, VA Suspect
- Full Name: Brian Jerome Cole Jr.
- Age: 30 (born ~1995)
- Hometown: Woodbridge, Virginia (Prince William County)
- Address: Manor House Court, Woodbridge, VA
- Height: Approximately 5’6″
- Occupation: Office worker at Brian Cole Bail Bonds (family-owned business)
- Education: C.D. Hylton High School graduate, Class of 2013
- Vehicle: 2017 Nissan Sentra
- Political Affiliation: Not registered to vote; described by investigators as having “anarchist leanings”
Neighbors in the quiet Woodbridge subdivision described Cole as low-key and unassuming. Family members, including his grandmother, insisted he “wouldn’t hurt a fly,” while others declined comment after the dramatic early-morning raid.
Timeline: The Night the Pipe Bombs Were Planted (January 5, 2021)
Between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on January 5, 2021, a hooded figure wearing Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes, a gray hoodie, gloves, and a face mask placed two viable pipe bombs:
- RNC Headquarters – Hidden in an alley behind 310 First Street SE
- DNC Headquarters – Concealed under a park bench near 430 South Capitol Street SE
Both devices contained homemade black powder, kitchen timers, wiring, and 9-volt batteries—capable of causing mass casualties. They were discovered the next day during the Capitol breach, forcing evacuations (including then Vice President-elect Kamala Harris from the DNC).
For years, grainy surveillance footage and a $500,000 FBI reward produced no solid leads—until now.
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How the FBI Finally Caught Brian Cole Jr.
Under the new Trump administration, Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Deputy Director Dan Bongino relaunched the investigation with fresh eyes. What cracked the case:
- Exact-match purchases of bomb components (pipes, end caps, timers, batteries) on Cole’s credit cards in 2019–2021
- Cell-phone location data placing him at both bomb sites during the exact planting window
- License-plate readers capturing his Nissan Sentra less than half a mile away
- Gait analysis and photogrammetry matching his height, walk, and clothing to the infamous footage
No evidence of co-conspirators has been announced—authorities believe Cole acted alone.
Charges Against Brian Cole Jr. (As of December 2025)
- Transportation of an explosive device
- Attempted malicious destruction using explosives
- Additional federal charges possible
Cole made his initial court appearance on December 5, 2025. He remains in federal custody.
Why This Arrest Matters for January 6 History
The pipe bombs were used by critics to claim the Capitol riot was an “inside job” or government operation. With a private citizen from Woodbridge, VA now charged—and no ties to federal agencies or political groups—many of those theories have collapsed overnight.
The bipartisan targeting (both RNC and DNC) further points to anarchist or anti-government motives rather than partisan extremism.
Latest Updates & Reactions (December 2025)
- Attorney General Pam Bondi: “We never forgot. We never gave up.”
- FBI Director Kash Patel praised the “new team” that solved a case that “languished for years.”
- Social media exploded with #BrianColeJr, #PipeBomberArrested, and #Jan6PipeBomber trending nationwide.
Final Thoughts: Justice Delayed, But Not Denied
For families in Woodbridge, Virginia, and across the country still healing from January 6, the arrest of Brian Cole Jr. closes a painful chapter. It also serves as a reminder that domestic threats can hide in the most ordinary places.
This case is still developing. More charges, motives, and courtroom drama are expected in the coming weeks.
Last updated: December 5, 2025 – Stay tuned for the latest on the DC pipe bomber arrest, Brian Cole Jr. of Woodbridge, and the ongoing January 6 pipe bomb investigation.