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Suspect confesses to planting bombs near party headquarters
A man charged with placing pipe bombs outside Democratic and Republican national offices in Washington, DC, the night before the 6 January 2021 Capitol riot has admitted to assembling and planting the devices, according to a recent court document.
Motive and statements
Brian Cole Jr, 30, told federal investigators that he acted after feeling overwhelmed by societal decline, stating that "something just snapped" in him. He denied any direct connection to the congressional certification of the 2020 election results, which later sparked the violent riot.
Cole claimed his actions were meant to "speak up" for those who believed the election was compromised, criticizing public figures on both sides for dismissing concerns as conspiracy theories or extremism. Despite this, he maintained that he had never been overtly political, according to the filing.
Investigation and arrest
Cole was arrested on 4 December after a five-year investigation that authorities had previously described as stalled. The bombs, discovered during the Capitol unrest, failed to detonate, leaving no clear link to the riot itself. Prosecutors noted that Cole initially denied involvement but later admitted to planting the devices after prolonged questioning.
When asked about targeting the party headquarters, Cole reportedly said, "I really don't like either party at this point." He cited historical conflicts, including Northern Ireland's Troubles, as inspiration for his actions.
Bomb assembly and intent
Cole told agents he spent months acquiring components and learning assembly techniques from online videos and video games. He admitted to not testing the devices before planting them and expressed relief they did not explode, stating he "didn't want to kill people."
"Ultimately, it was luck, not lack of effort, that the defendant failed to detonate one or both of his devices and that no one was killed or maimed due to his actions."
Federal prosecutors
Prosecutors emphasized that the lack of casualties does not diminish the severity of his actions.
Evidence and legal status
Prosecutors described the evidence against Cole as "overwhelming," including credit card records for bomb-making materials and components found in his home. They also noted that he wiped his phone nearly 1,000 times since the incident. Cole has not yet entered a plea, and his lawyer has not commented.
