Capitol Insurgent Sprayed Police With Unknown Gas as Riot Began, Video Shows
New footage of the assault on the U.S. Capitol on January 6 shows an insurgent spraying members of law enforcement with an unknown gas as the attack unfolded.
The video was one of 10 released by the FBI in an effort to get the public's assistance in identifying individuals the bureau said are "suspects in the most egregious assaults on federal officers during the riots."
"These individuals are seen on video committing egregious crimes against those who have devoted their lives to protecting the American people," Steven D'Antuono, assistant director in charge of the FBI's Washington Field Office, said in a statement Thursday.
D'Antuono added, "We know it can be a difficult decision to report information about family, friends or coworkers, but it is the right thing to do, and the FBI continues to need your help to identify these suspects."
Each video begins with a warning that the content "may be disturbing" and that viewer discretion is advised.
In one video, an unknown protester is seen walking toward a railing on a set of stairs and spraying an unknown substance on members of law enforcement gathered below, causing them to momentarily begin to disperse.
The footage then moves to close-ups of the suspect. Screenshots show him in the crowd and wearing a blue-green jacket with a black sweatshirt underneath, with the hood over his head.
The FBI said Thursday it has arrested more than 300 people who participated in the Capitol riot, with the help of hundreds of thousands of tips provided by the public.
Five people died in the January 6 attack, including Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick. Two officers who helped fight off the mob later died by suicide.
Two men have been charged with assaulting Sicknick and are alleged to have worked together to spray police, including Sicknick, with a toxic chemical during the insurrection. The court record noted that the police were temporarily blinded by the chemical, which was strong or stronger than anything they had been exposed to during police training, and they needed help washing it off.
The other videos released by the FBI on Thursday show individuals throwing objects at police officers, hitting them with sticks and attempting to rip off their gas masks.
The FBI's press release included information on how to submit information on the individuals shown in the videos. If you have a tip, call 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip online at Tips.fbi.gov. When submitting information online, reference the AFO number attached to the video.
