FBI issues new appeal in Capitol pipe bomb investigation; ups reward to $500K

The FBI issued a new appeal for public help to identify the suspect who planted pipe bombs near the Republican and Democratic national committee headquarters the night before the Capitol assault, raising the reward to $500,000.

Two years after the devices were discovered and disarmed in the midst of the deadly riot, the search for the suspect remains perhaps the most enduring mystery related to the siege.

“We remain grateful to the American people, who have provided invaluable tips that have helped us advance the investigation,” said David Sundberg, chief of the FBI’s Washington Field Office. “With the significantly increased reward, we urge those who may have previously hesitated to contact us — or who may not have realized they had important information — to review the information on our website and come forward with anything relevant.”

“Despite the unprecedented volume of data review involved in this case, the FBI and our partners continue to work relentlessly to bring the perpetrator of these dangerous attempted attacks to justice.”

More: Capitol pipe bomb suspect may have operated from park; FBI appeals for help

More: FBI makes new appeal for information in Capitol pipe bomb investigation; video shows hooded suspect

In its latest appeal, the FBI said investigators had conducted about 1,000 interviews, “visited more than 1,200 residences and businesses,” while amassing more than 39,000 video files, and vetting nearly 500 tips.

“Despite the unprecedented volume of data review involved in this case, the FBI and our partners continue to work relentlessly to bring the perpetrator of these dangerous attempted attacks to justice,” Sundberg said.

For months, investigators have been hunting for the suspect whose blurry images were captured by surveillance cameras on Jan. 5, 2021 in a Capitol Hill neighborhood, dressed in a gray hooded sweatshirt, a face mask and distinctive Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes in yellow, black, and gray.

Authorities have said the devices were placed at the locations between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., the night before a mob of Donald Trump supporters breached the Capitol, trampling barricades and overwhelming police.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: January 6 investigation: FBI ups reward in Capitol pipe bomb probe