New details about January 6 pipe bomb suspect emerge: Brian Cole was ‘autistic-like’ and loved ‘chihuahuas’

Fresh information has surfaced about Brian Cole, the man accused of planting pipe bombs outside the Democratic and Republican national headquarters on the eve of the 6 January 2021 Capitol riot.According to Fox News, Cole is an unlikely suspect who lived with his mother, adored chihuahuas and was described by those who knew him as “almost autistic-like.”30-year-old Cole was arrested on Thursday after a 5-year manhunt and investigation into the mysterious explosives left outside the DNC and RNC buildings on 5 January 2021. The bombs never detonated, but the FBI has confirmed they were fully capable of causing serious injuries or deaths.Cole made his initial appearance in federal court in Washington on Friday. He did not enter a plea and was ordered to remain in custody until his detention hearing on December 15. He is charged with transporting explosives across state lines with intent to kill, injure or cause damage, as well as attempted malicious destruction of property using explosive materials.According to the New York Post, Cole sat for nearly four hours with investigators and admitted he planted the devices. He told investigators he believed claims that “Trump — not Democrat Joe Biden — won the 2020 presidential election,” yet a national Republican operative told NYP there was no sign Cole was a Trump voter.Investigators also found social media posts suggesting he held anarchist views, but found no evidence tying him to militant groups or pro-Trump rioters.The pipe bombs were classic improvised explosives made from galvanised metal pipes filled with homemade black powder. Each had a simple firing system with wiring and a kitchen timer. According to the FBI, they were lethal despite not being military grade.The bombs were found only after 15 to 20 hours of searching, a delay that fuelled criticism of the FBI’s handling of the case. Many people questioned the credibility of federal authorities, asking how a man described as quiet, simple and living with his mother, who loved dogs, could evade arrest for nearly five years.