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<\/p>\nThe FBI made a fresh appeal\u00a0for the public’s assistance Tuesday in pursuit of a suspect who planted pipe bombs near the Capitol on the night before the riots.<\/p>\n
Federal authorities released videos of a hooded person casually carrying backpacks believed to contain explosives that were placed near the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic national committees.<\/p>\n
The devices, which were discovered on the day of the attacks, were placed between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m., the night before, authorities have said.<\/p>\n
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The Federal Bureau of investigation and Department of Justice briefed the public on investigations into rioters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. (Photo: USA TODAY)<\/span><\/p>\n Release of the videos comes more than a month after federal authorities released still images of the suspect, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, a facemask and distinctive Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes in yellow, black, and gray.<\/p>\n At various points in the videos, the suspect is seen walking to a park bench near the Democratic headquarters and\u00a0stopping on a Capitol Hill neighborhood sidewalk at about 7:40 p.m., where they rested a backpack against a retaining wall while a man walking his dog passed by. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe still believe there is someone out there who has information they may not have realized was significant until now,” said Steven D’Antuono, chief of the FBI’s Washington Field Office. “We know it can be a difficult decision to report information about family or friends \u2013 but this is about protecting human life. These pipe bombs were viable devices that could have been detonated, resulting in serious injury or death.”<\/p>\n D’Antuono said the public’s assistance could prevent future harm to the suspect and others.<\/p>\n The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives are offering a reward of $100,000 for information in the case.<\/p>\n D’Antuono has said that the components of the devices made them “viable” threats until they were discovered and disarmed by authorities and that getting the suspect is a “top priority.”<\/p>\n Some officials believe the devices were planted in an attempt to draw forces away from the Capitol during the riots.<\/p>\n