FBI releases video of person suspected of planting pipe bombs on eve of Jan. 6

The FBI released video on Wednesday of a person suspected of planting pipe bombs near the headquarters of Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Republican National Committee (RNC) on the eve of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The pipe bombs — which were planted in the evening of Jan. 5 — were discovered in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, D.C., on the day of the riots before supporters of former President Trump stormed the Capitol.

One device was placed in an alley behind the RNC on First Street SE, while the other was placed next to a park bench near the DNC, located on South Capitol Street.

In one of the videos, the suspect is seen walking to a bench near the DNC headquarters, and sits down.

The person then reaches into a backpack and grabs what appears to be a cell phone. They then put the phone away, and walk off.

The agency also released a video showing a map of the route the suspect took between the DNC and the RNC, and layers in other videos of the suspect walking in those areas. 

In a statement, the FBI says that it doesn’t believe the suspect was from the Capitol Hill neighborhood based on their behavior in the videos and interviews with residents.

The suspect wore a face mask, glasses, a grey hooded sweatshirt, globes, and black and light grey Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes with a yellow logo, the law enforcement agency said. The person used the backpack to transport each of the devices.

The agency is offering a $100,000 reward for information that will lead the FBI to the suspect.

Over 570 people have been arrested in connection with the riots that led to five deaths and the battering of Capitol Police officers. 

During a hearing before the Senate Homeland Security Committee in February, former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund testified that the pipe bombs were likely used to draw police resources away from the Capitol during the riots.