In a move that could soon bring closure to a mystery investigated by federal law enforcement for nearly five years, the FBI announced a person has been arrested for allegedly planting pipe bombs in Washington ahead of the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021.

The suspect has been identified as Brian Jerome Cole Jr., 30, of Northern Virginia, Attorney GeneralPam Bondi said in a Thursday, Dec. 4, news briefing.

The pipe bombs were placed near the offices of the Democratic and Republican national committees on the night of Jan. 5, 2021, the FBI previously said. The explosives did not detonate.

Federal law enforcement officials said they located Cole not from new a new tip but from existing evidence like cell phone data and purchasing records that a special team of investigators was brought in to reevaluate.

“That evidence has been sitting there collecting dust,” Bondi said.

But who is Brian Cole? Here's what we know so far about the alleged suspect.

Who is Brian Cole?

Brian Cole, 30, lives in Woodbridge, Virginia, a community in Prince William County located about 20 miles south of Washington.

According to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia reviewed by USA TODAY, Cole lives in a home with his mother and other family members.

Prince William County Public Schools Director of Communication Diana Gulotta confirmed to USA TODAY that Cole graduated from Hylton High School in 2013.

According to public records reviewed by USA TODAY, Cole does not have a criminal history but does have several traffic violations on file, which took place after the pipe bomb incident.

What charges is Brian Cole facing?

Cole is charged with use of an explosive device, Bondi told reporters.

“There could be more charges to come,” Bondi said Thursday afternoon. "There was no new tip. There was no new witness, just good diligent police work and prosecutorial work."

Documents say Cole bought pipe bomb components from Home Depot, Walmart

Cole's credit card and checking account records showed that he purchased multiple items as early as October 2019 through late 2020 consistent with the components used to manufacture two pipe bombs placed at the RNC and DNC offices, his 7-page charging document claimed.

Cole bought components including a galvanized pipe, end caps, electrical wire, battery clips and white kitchen timers, court records also said. Investigators tracked Cole’s purchases at Home Depot, Lowe's, Walmart and Micro Center.

The suspect allegedly bought items including safety glasses, a wire-stripping tool and a machinist’s file, which could be used to make pipe bombs, according to court records filed by an FBI agent whose name was redacted from the filing.

Cole then continued to buy the components after the pipe bombs were found, including a kitchen timer, more nine-volt batteries and galvanized pipes during January 2021, the complaint said.

A call to Cole's phone number listed in public records, as well as to other relatives, went unanswered on Dec. 4.

Provider records show Cole's cell phone connected with towers consistent with his being in the area of the RNC and DNC offices on Jan. 5, 2021.

In addition, court documents continued, a Virginia license plate registered to a 2017 Nissan Sentra that he owns was captured on camera the same day at 7:10 p.m., at the South Capitol Street exit from Interstate 395 South. That's "less than one-half mile from the location where the individual who placed the devices was first observed on foot," the records said.

It was not immediately clear if he had obtained legal counsel.

FBI, local law enforcement search home

On Thursday, Dec. 4, Prince William County police and FBI agents sealed the street in front of the suspect's home.

It was not immediately known what law enforcement recovered, if anything.

USA TODAY has reached out to the FBI and Prince William County police for more information.

Contributing: Bart Jansen, Sarah D. Wire with USA TODAY

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Brian Cole? FBI identifies suspect in Jan. 6 DC pipe bomb case

Reporting by Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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