Federal authorities have again increased the reward for information about the pipe bomber and released new details and photos of a suspect on Friday, stressing the urgency of the Justice Department addressing this approach, which is still one of the most worrying mysteries for law enforcement .
The FBI also identified the suspect’s shoes as Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes in yellow, black and gray, and included enhanced photos of them, as well as photos of the devices.
The reward for information leading to the location, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for placing the bomb is now $ 100,000. The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives increased the reward once this month – to $ 75,000.
According to a law enforcement official, CNN first reported on Wednesday that the bombs were eight inches long and were made of galvanized steel. The officer said they were equipped with egg timers and filled with an explosive powder. Investigators searched the remains of the devices at the FBI laboratory in Virginia and asked the public to submit information, worrying the bomber might still be at work.
The bombs were discovered on January 6 at about 13:00 ET within minutes of each other, just about the time a crowd of angry supporters of President Donald Trump descended on the building to a nearby rally with the president, according to a report of the acting head of the U.S. Capitol Tuesday to lawmakers and the FBI poster.
Officers from the ATF, the FBI, the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police in DC responded to the scene at the two offices, which are less than a quarter of a mile apart and are just one block south of the Capitol. and the bombs were safely detonated at the scene by robots.
Investigators are considering the possibility that the devices were part of a plan to divert resources from Capitol law enforcement while rioters began to force their way. The devices were placed in the open.
One, through the offices of the Republican National Committee, was discovered by a 36-year-old on her way back after throwing in a load of laundry.
It is still unknown why the devices did not explode, law enforcement officials told CNN earlier this week. One theory being investigated is that the timers are set incorrectly. The other is that the batteries may have been incorrectly connected, the official said.
A photo of the person who allegedly planted the bombs, taken from surveillance footage, was widely shared by law enforcement.
In the photos, the person appears in a gray sweater with hood and is wearing a backpack.
This story has been updated with additional information.