Homemade black powder, kitchen timer for detonation: All about pipe bombs planted in Washington by Brian Cole hours before January 6 riots

The arrest of Brian Cole revived questions surrounding the two pipe bombs planted in Washington on the night before the 6 January 2021 Capitol riot. For nearly five years, investigators struggled to identify who left the explosives outside the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee.

Now that Cole is in custody, questions have been raised about whether the bombs were an actual threat and what they were capable of.According to investigators, the devices were classic improvised pipe bombs constructed from 20-centimetre galvanised metal pipes, sealed at both ends. They were packed with homemade black powder that was capable of producing a lethal blast. Each device had a firing system based on simple wiring and a kitchen timer to function as a triggering mechanism. The FBI had confirmed that these components would have caused a lethal detonation if they were left undisturbed, even if they were not The bombs never exploded, but officials have said that they could have caused serious injuries or deaths.

Both locations were close to heavily used political offices and a short walk from the Capitol. Security officers, party staff and members of Congress regularly pass through the area. But what was the motive of placing those bombs in the first place? Investigators have long examined whether the devices were meant to act as a diversion to pull police resources away from the Capitol before the January 6 riot. That theory has never been confirmed, largely because officials could not identify a suspect until now.

For years, the investigation into the pipe bombs frustrated investigators. Hundreds of tips were reviewed, as well as thousands of hours of video footage, yet the case remained one of the most puzzling unsolved chapters of the events surrounding the Capitol attack. The lack of progress resulted in tonnes of conspiracy theories from some Republican lawmakers, while others criticised how security officials failed to detect the bombs for 17 hours.Cole’s arrest may finally allow investigators to answer the central questions that have haunted people across party lin since that night in January 2021. There are several questions that still need to be answered. The forensic details of the devices suggest clear intent and the capability for serious harm. What remains to be determined is why they were placed and whether Cole acted alone.