After nearly five years of false leads and frustrated investigation, federal agents on Thursday arrested a suspect in Virginia on charges of having planted two pipe bombs near the Capitol on the night before Jan. 6, 2021, according to people familiar with the matter.
The suspect’s identity remained unclear for the moment, but the arrest could ultimately provide an answer to one of the mysteries arising from Jan. 6.: Who planted the bombs on Capitol Hill outside the national headquarters of both the Republican and Democratic parties on the night before a congressional ceremony certifying that Joseph R. Biden Jr. had won the 2020 election?
While neither device exploded, their discovery on Jan. 6 added to the fear and confusion on a day when a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol, delaying the certification of Mr. Biden’s victory.
The F.B.I. has redoubled its efforts several times in recent years to find the pipe bomber, circulating various video clips of the suspect wearing a mask, a gray hooded sweatshirt, dark pants and Nike Air Max Speed Turf sneakers. Agents also obtained a trove of location data from cellphones and digital advertising services, tried to find people who bought devices similar to those used in the making of the bombs and issued subpoenas to 18 vendors that sold the type of sneakers the suspect was wearing.
Dan Bongino, the deputy director of the F.B.I., has identified the pipe bomb investigation as one of the bureau’s top priorities. But agents had not taken anyone into custody in connection with the inquiry until Thursday morning. It remained unclear what precise charges the suspect would eventually face in court.
The break in the case was not based on new information but came after agents bore down yet again on their investigative files and discovered a new lead, according to one person familiar with the matter.
Alan Feuer covers extremism and political violence for The Times, focusing on the criminal cases involving the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and against former President Donald J. Trump.
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