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Who is the pipe bomber? FBI offers $100,000 reward for suspect walking near RNC, DNC offices before Capitol riots

Two pipe bombs were planted by a bomber near the Democratic and Republican party headquarters on January 5, 2021, the night before the insurrection at the Capitol

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has released a new security footage on Tuesday, March 9, as authorities continue to seek more information about the person who placed pipe bombs outside the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee headquarters that were discovered in Washington, DC, on the day of the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.

Two pipe bombs were planted by a bomber near the Democratic and Republican party headquarters on January 5, 2021, the night before the insurrection at the Capitol, the FBI has stated.

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The footage obtained offers a clearer look at the pipe bomber, who can be seen wearing a hood as the person moves through neighborhoods and near the RNC and DNC. At one point, the individual stops and wipes off their glasses. They also sit down on a bench near the DNC. In January 2021, the FBI issued a wanted poster of the suspect, who was wearing Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes in yellow, black, and gray, and included enhanced photos of them, along with photos of the devices. The authorities have said the bombs were placed between 7:30 and 8:30 pm on January 5, the night before the insurrection.

“We believe the information released today will help someone recognize the suspect, or something about them,” FBI assistant director in charge Steven D’Antuono said in a video statement. D’Antuono said the pipe bomber wore a facemask, a gray sweatshirt, and black and gray Nike shoes. “One device was placed in an alley behind the RNC,” D’Antuono said. “The other was placed next to a park bench near the DNC.”

Apart from providing a physical description of the suspect, the FBI requested the public to come forward with any information about people who may have experienced changes in behavior prior to, during or after the January 6 insurrection. “This could include making travel plans to Capitol Hill or researching the locations of the DNC and RNC,” D’Antuono said, as well as anyone who may have purchased threaded pipe and kitchen timers prior to the incident.

The devices that were discovered were rigged to egg timers and filled with an explosive powder. Officers from the ATF, FBI, US Capitol Police and DC Metropolitan Police had responded to the scene at the two offices, which are less than a quarter-mile apart and just blocks south of the Capitol, and the bombs were safely detonated at the scene by robots.

The planted bombs were found within a gap of few minutes at around 1 pm ET on January 6. This was just around the time when an angry mob of pro-Trump's supporters attacked the building, according to an account the acting chief of the US Capitol gave to lawmakers in January and the FBI poster.

The FBI, along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, is now offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the identification of the person responsible for placing the explosives. They are asking people to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit tips online at Tips.fbi.gov, which can be submitted anonymously.