The J6 Pipe Bomber. What we know.

The Discovery On the afternoon of January 6, 2021, at approximately 1:00 p.m., a passerby discovered a suspicious-looking cooler on a bench near an alley behind the DNC building on Capitol Hill. The person alerted law enforcement. The Capitol Police Bomb Squad responded and, upon inspecting the cooler, found a pipe bomb inside. A short time later, law enforcement conducted a security sweep of the surrounding area and discovered a second pipe bomb placed in a planter box near the RNC building, located just a few blocks away.

The Devices Both devices were functional pipe bombs. The FBI described them as being constructed with 1x8-inch metal pipes, end caps, black powder/knotted powder, and a timer. They were considered viable and dangerous explosives. The discovery of these bombs prompted a large-scale evacuation of the area, including the DNC and RNC buildings, and diverted significant law enforcement resources at a critical time when crowds were gathering for the "Stop the Steal" rally and the subsequent breach of the Capitol.