FBI Renews $500K Reward for DNC, RNC Pipe Bombs

The FBI has renewed a $500,000 reward and released higher-quality surveillance footage to identify the person who planted pipe bombs outside the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee on Jan. 5, 2021. The new video traces the suspect’s movements between about 7:34 p.m. and 8:18 p.m., showing them set down a backpack on South Capitol Street, sit on a bench outside the DNC and place a device about 7:54 p.m., then plant a second device behind the RNC about 8:16 p.m. Investigators describe the suspect as roughly 5 feet 7 inches tall, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, mask, glasses, black gloves, carrying a backpack, and wearing distinctive black-and-gray Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes with a yellow swoosh. The devices, built from 1×8-inch threaded galvanized pipes, kitchen timers and homemade black powder, were discovered the next afternoon, rendered safe and did not detonate, but were judged viable and capable of seriously injuring bystanders. The FBI says the suspect may not be local, has distributed a fuller visual timeline, and is urging anyone with information to contact its tip line.