FBI has opened more than 160 investigations against Capitol Hill rioters: Officials

FBI has opened more than 160 investigations against January 6 Capitol Hill rioters, officials said and asserted this is just tip of iceberg. ncy has worked hand-in-hand with United States Attorney's Office and law enforcement partners in DC and across country to arrest and charge multiple individuals who took part in last week's breach of US Capitol, FBI Washington Field Office Assistant Director In-Charge Steven M D'Antuo told reporters at a news conference.

"In six days, we have opened over 160 case files, and that's just tip of iceberg," he said, adding FBI has received more than 100,000 pieces of digital media.

D'Antuo said FBI will be kcking on doors of people who participated in attack on Capitol. "But before we do this, this is your opportunity to come forward as several individuals involved in Wednesday's riots have done," he added. In weeks leading up to January 6 rally, FBI, D'Antuo said, developed some intelligence that a number of individuals were planning to travel to DC area with intentions to cause violence.

This was immediately shared and action was taken as demonstrated by arrest of Enrique Tario by Metropolitan Police Department night before rally, he said. Or individuals were identified in or parts of country and ir travel subsequently disrupted, D'Antuo ted.

Acting US Attorney for District of Columbia, Michael Sherwin, said scope and scale of investigation in se cases are really unprecedented t only in FBI history but also probably in history of Department of Justice in which Capitol grounds outside and inside are essentially crime scenes.

"And a scale in which we have literally thousands of potential witnesses and a scenario in which we are going to have, I believe, hundreds of criminal cases both filed with our local courts, our superior courts, and through federal court system," he said, ting this is going to be a long-term investigation.

Sherwin said as many as 170 cases of investigations have already been opened. "And I anticipate that's going to grow to hundreds in coming weeks," he said. Federal prosecutors, he said, are looking at everything from simple trespass to ft of mail and digital devices inside Capitol to assault on local and federal officers, both outside and inside Capitol, and also ft of potential national security information or national defence information, felony murder and even civil rights excessive force investigations.

Sherwin said that two pipe bombs were found outside RNC and DNC offices near Capitol grounds. "y were real devices. y had explosive ignitors. y had timers. We don't kw exactly why y did t go off. That's being investigated. y were destroyed, disabled by Capitol Police with assistance of ATF, and that is all obviously being vetted and investigated," he said. FBI has anunced a reward of USD 5,000 for any information leading to identification of individual or individuals that left pipe bombs. 

(Im Credits: AP)