WASHINGTON: As thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, federal agents were working at the same time to detonate two pipe bombs found just blocks away at the offices of the Republican and Democratic national committees.
The focus on the insurrection shifted public attention away from the explosives threat which experts say remains a primary concern for law enforcement ahead of next weeks inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. Investigators are increasingly worried about the potential for attacks on soft targets in the nations capital.
The threat is substantial in Washington, where many government buildings, including the U.S. Capitol, are usually open to the public and thousands of tourists wander through massive museums and some of the most iconic monuments in the country at all hours of the day and night and can even get close to the White House.
It was around 12:45 p.m. Wednesday when U.S. Capitol Police and agents from the FBI…