At a Glance
- Brian Cole, 30, arrested Dec. 4 for planting pipe bombs near Democratic and Republican party headquarters.
- He claims the devices were a statement against both parties, not tied to the Jan. 6 riot.
- Prosecutors say he set the bombs to detonate an hour after placement, but they failed to explode.
- Why it matters: The case underscores domestic terrorism threats and the legal process for suspects awaiting trial.
A Virginia resident has been charged with planting pipe bombs near the headquarters of both the Democratic and Republican parties, a move prosecutors say was aimed at expressing outrage at the political establishment. The case, which has surfaced in a DOJ filing, highlights the ongoing concerns over domestic terrorism and the legal status of suspects awaiting trial.
Arrest and Charges
Brian Cole was arrested Dec. 4 in Virginia and charged with transporting an explosive device and attempting malicious destruction by means of explosive materials. He has not entered a plea, and his defense counsel has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Motivation and Statements
Prosecutors allege Cole harbored animosity toward both parties, saying he was “watching everything, just everything getting worse.” In interviews with FBI agents, he claimed that if people believed the federal election was being tampered with, “someone needs to speak up, right? Someone up top.”
Brian Cole stated:
> “If people feel that their votes are like just being thrown away, then … at the very least someone should address it.”
Brian Cole also said:
> “Something just snapped after I had watched everything getting worse. I didn’t like either party, and because they were in charge, I felt compelled to act.”
He also told agents that “people up top” included public figures on both sides and should not ignore grievances or label them “conspiracy theorists,” “bad people,” “Nazis,” or “fascists.” Cole denied that his actions were directed toward Congress or related to the Jan. 6 proceedings.
Bomb Construction and Deployment
Prosecutors say Cole purchased components from 2018 to 2020 and was inspired by the Troubles in Northern Ireland. He assembled the devices hours before planting, wiped them with disinfectant wipes, and stored them in a shoebox. He set the devices to detonate after one hour, but they did not explode.
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Pipe nipple | Core of the device |
| End caps | Seal for the pipe |
| Wires | Electrical connections |
| 9-volt battery | Power source |
| Homemade black powder | Explosive material |
Cole admitted he did not test the devices before planting and hoped the bombs would receive media attention. He was reportedly relieved that they failed to detonate because he did not want to kill people. After seeing himself on the news, he discarded all bomb-making materials at a dump.
Agents searching his home found pipe nipples, iron end caps, wires, and wire strippers. They also discovered a receipt for hand sanitizer and pipe nipples in his car, and a shopping bag containing end caps and a 9-volt battery.
First responders, party leaders, the Vice President-elect, and the Speaker of the House drove past the bombs before they were discovered.
Legal and Administrative Actions
The Justice Department, through Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Jones, filed a request to keep Cole in custody while awaiting trial. The filing notes that his failure to detonate the devices does not mitigate the dangerous nature of his crimes.
Key Takeaways
- Brian Cole faces charges for transporting an explosive device and attempting malicious destruction.
- The bombs were intended as a political statement, not a direct link to the Jan. 6 riot.
- Prosecutors seek to keep him jailed while his trial is pending.
The case illustrates how domestic terrorism allegations are handled and the importance of pre-trial custody decisions in high-profile cases.
