Coming from a former EOD tech (7 1/2 yrs as a Navy EOD tech), what you see is what you're first taught how to make when you're learning about homemade IEDs. Then you get to play around and design some of your own. Each person makes things a little different than the rest. It's what becomes known as a "fingerprint." That's how an experienced tech can determine who made the explosive. Pipe bombs are the guerilla's choice for homemade explosive devices, they're that easy to make. HOWEVER, uniformity is something ONLY taught in the lab, or by EOD techs, like myself, who were lab course trained themselves.
The two in the pics are damn near identical, meaning they were most likely produced in a lab, by the same person or by a group of people using the same schematics, and most likely local to the event, meaning D.C. in this case. The uniformity between the two photos is key, here.
Also, transporting IEDs is difficult, in the best of circumstances due to traffic conditions, road conditions, the anxiety of transporting explosives, etc. Most backyarders would poss or crap their pants, be sweating profusely, and drive way too eratic, thus bringing unwanted attention to themselves from the cops or innocent bystanders. Keying in on these tells is how we've been able to stop attacks from suicide bombers overseas. And in D.C. Metro area, the roads are horrible, the traffic is worse, and on that day was IMPOSSIBLE to navigate, even on foot, without coming close to a bomb sniffing dog, cops, NG units, inquisitive bystanders, etc. Whoever planted these had time to do it, unmolested and undetected. A statistical impossibility for a Normie in D.C. on 1/6/2021.
In all my experience, I have NEVER seen such uniformity in pictures of bombs. Ever. Usually, if it's a "homemade" device, it's been cobbled together and looks sloppy. You can tell an amateur made them. These are professional. Right down to the same type of timer we use in the govt training of EOD techs.
Granted, you can readily find all the non explosive materials to make a pipe bomb at Lowes or Home Depot, and most of the explosive materials can be found there, too. BUT, if I were a betting man, judging by how the it's all neatly wired, cleanly soldered (that is an art form and ONLY comes with hours upon hours of experience, similar to welding), and with the same signature look, it's clear to me this was made in a Federal EOD Lab, nowhere else. Which means the explosives are probably from the Federal Registry and most likely could ONLY be found in the U.S. by only a relative few handsful of Non-Fed type civilians. You don't see that kid of uniformity and craftsmanship outside a govt bomb lab, E...V...E...R... And chances are, the explosives in that (if there even is any) is most likely military grade high explosives packed into the device with ball bearing, nails, or some other type of shrapnel, b cause that's what nearly ALL of the govts bomb techs are trained to make.
Questions, if the Federal EOD tech were also trained in uniformity, would they not have camouflaged that fingerprint in case it were found? The high grade of manufacture and the clean fingerprint that you describe suggests to me that these were meant to be detonated, so they weren't meant to be found before detonation. However, they were found with such a clear, uniform signature: did they just become sloppy and arrogant and not expect their bomb to be discovered at all?
Also, do you have ideas about who would be the target of these? I'd heard that these were targeted at Trump after he gave his speech, but he disappeared en route down the boulevard to the Capitol for his protection.
Coming from a former EOD tech (7 1/2 yrs as a Navy EOD tech), what you see is what you're first taught how to make when you're learning about homemade IEDs. Then you get to play around and design some of your own. Each person makes things a little different than the rest. It's what becomes known as a "fingerprint." That's how an experienced tech can determine who made the explosive. Pipe bombs are the guerilla's choice for homemade explosive devices, they're that easy to make. HOWEVER, uniformity is something ONLY taught in the lab, or by EOD techs, like myself, who were lab course trained themselves.
The two in the pics are damn near identical, meaning they were most likely produced in a lab, by the same person or by a group of people using the same schematics, and most likely local to the event, meaning D.C. in this case. The uniformity between the two photos is key, here.
Also, transporting IEDs is difficult, in the best of circumstances due to traffic conditions, road conditions, the anxiety of transporting explosives, etc. Most backyarders would poss or crap their pants, be sweating profusely, and drive way too eratic, thus bringing unwanted attention to themselves from the cops or innocent bystanders. Keying in on these tells is how we've been able to stop attacks from suicide bombers overseas. And in D.C. Metro area, the roads are horrible, the traffic is worse, and on that day was IMPOSSIBLE to navigate, even on foot, without coming close to a bomb sniffing dog, cops, NG units, inquisitive bystanders, etc. Whoever planted these had time to do it, unmolested and undetected. A statistical impossibility for a Normie in D.C. on 1/6/2021.
In all my experience, I have NEVER seen such uniformity in pictures of bombs. Ever. Usually, if it's a "homemade" device, it's been cobbled together and looks sloppy. You can tell an amateur made them. These are professional. Right down to the same type of timer we use in the govt training of EOD techs.
Granted, you can readily find all the non explosive materials to make a pipe bomb at Lowes or Home Depot, and most of the explosive materials can be found there, too. BUT, if I were a betting man, judging by how the it's all neatly wired, cleanly soldered (that is an art form and ONLY comes with hours upon hours of experience, similar to welding), and with the same signature look, it's clear to me this was made in a Federal EOD Lab, nowhere else. Which means the explosives are probably from the Federal Registry and most likely could ONLY be found in the U.S. by only a relative few handsful of Non-Fed type civilians. You don't see that kid of uniformity and craftsmanship outside a govt bomb lab, E...V...E...R... And chances are, the explosives in that (if there even is any) is most likely military grade high explosives packed into the device with ball bearing, nails, or some other type of shrapnel, b cause that's what nearly ALL of the govts bomb techs are trained to make.
Wow, thanks for the insight!
Questions, if the Federal EOD tech were also trained in uniformity, would they not have camouflaged that fingerprint in case it were found? The high grade of manufacture and the clean fingerprint that you describe suggests to me that these were meant to be detonated, so they weren't meant to be found before detonation. However, they were found with such a clear, uniform signature: did they just become sloppy and arrogant and not expect their bomb to be discovered at all?
Also, do you have ideas about who would be the target of these? I'd heard that these were targeted at Trump after he gave his speech, but he disappeared en route down the boulevard to the Capitol for his protection.
Excellent assessment SuckaFree. Thank you for your service.