Federal authorities are now offering a reward of up to $ 75,000 for information leading investigators to the person they allegedly placed pipe bombs at the offices of the Republican and Democratic National Committees in Washington, DC, the office announced Thursday.
The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced on January 6 the reward for information leading them to ‘the location, arrest and conviction of the individual (s) responsible for placing suspected pipe bombs’. .
On Tuesday, a law enforcement official familiar with Inauguration’s security briefing told Fox News it was a “top priority” to find the person who planted the pipe bombs in the run-up to Wednesday’s ceremony.
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It was around 12:45 on Wednesday when U.S. Capitol police and agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were called to the office of the Republican National Committee (RNC) after a pipe bomb was found outside. About 30 minutes later, while agents and bomb technicians were still investigating the RNC, there was another call for a second similar explosive device found at the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) headquarters nearby.
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The two explosive devices were very similar, and both were about a foot long with end caps and wiring apparently connected to a timer, two different law enforcement officers familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.
An explosive device will be displayed outside the office of the Republican National Committee in Washington on Wednesday, January 6, 2021. (AP Photo)
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The images of the suspect released so far show the person wearing a gray colored sweatshirt with hood and dark trousers. The suspect is wearing white and dark-colored shoes with an intricate design and looks like he is holding a backpack.
The FBI asks that anyone with information call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5342) or submit tips online at fbi.gov/USCapitol.
Fox News’ Jake Gibson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.