The FBI has released a new video of the person wanted to plant explosives near the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee the night before the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.
The video, released Wednesday by the FBI office in Washington, shows the suspect sitting on a park bench and appears to be using a cell phone and possibly even texting someone. The suspect is also visible for the first time completely with a full front view. The video also contains a map that traces the route the terrorist is believed to have made to DNC and RNC, with links to videos of the specific places where the devices were left.
Here is the new video:
Former FBI agent Tom O’Connor took particular note of the fact that the suspect appeared to be texting someone.
“While looking at the person, when they are in the DNC area and sitting on the bench, it looks like the person is pulling out a phone (potentially texting someone), which would mean that there is possibly someone if not participate, “he told CBS News.
While the person receiving the texts may “completely ignore what’s going on,” O’Connor said it leaves open the possibility that “someone else is involved” and that “someone is talking.”
“If you participate, now is the time to start talking … with law enforcement and put an end to this case,” he advised.
In studying the route taken by the suspect, “and the manner in which the suspect carries his backpack after placing the bomb pipe in the DNC,” the FBI believes the suspect was operating from Folger Park, which is located in walking distance to DNC. and headquarters of RNC.
According to reviews of the suspect’s behavior in images and interviews with Capitol Hill neighborhood residents, the FBI believes “the suspect is not from the area.” Noticing that the suspect is wearing glasses, the FBI also said the person appears unknown in the area.
The FBI statement said the suspect wore “a face mask, goggles, a gray hooded sweatshirt, black and light gray Nike Air Max Speed Turf gloves and shoes with the yellow logo.”
He two pipe pumps they were found around 1 a.m. on Jan. 6, when riot police began breaking police barricades around the outer perimeter of the U.S. Capitol, a few blocks from the two-party headquarters. A passerby had seen a pipe and a tangle of wires near the RNC building and alerted authorities.
This is the second set of videos released in the months following the riots, but no suspects have been publicly identified by the FBI, which is now making a new call for information. He is asking the public to watch the video, review the map, and present any details “about that person’s glasses, shoes, backpack, or any of the items, manners, and features in the photos and videos that the FBI has published, “says the release. “Anyone who saw the suspect or anything unusual in Folger Park on the afternoon of Jan. 5 is also asked to call the FBI.”
According to Steven M. D’Antuono, deputy director of the FBI’s Washington office, “Since January, the FBI has conducted more than 800 interviews, collected more than 23,000 video files, and evaluated more than 300 advice related to this research. ”
The FBI is offering a $ 100,000 reward for information that leads to the identification of the person suspected of placing the bombs.
Cassidy McDonald contributed to this report.