Austin Bombings Suspect Found

After the first four bombings in Austin – all delivered in mailed packages – another bomb went off on March 19, in San Antonio, Texas at a FedEx facility. Authorities believe the explosions are related to a now known serial bomber.

The bombs have killed two people, injured four others, and struck fear and caution into the residents in the Austin region.

“The working theory right now…is that there was a package that was in the shipping center destined for Austin,” Brian Manley, the interim Austin police chief, said in an interview for The Washington Post.

Officers positively identified Mark Anthony Conditt by surveillance of him dropping off packages days before the bombs went off at the FedEx offices, along with receipts, internet searches, and witness sketches. As they were closing in, Conditt recorded a 25 minute video explaining all the events that led up to his actions, but revealed no actual motive.

“He confessed to building the explosive devices, but didn’t explain why he targeted his victims,” Manley said in an interview for CNN.

Austin police traced Conditt back to a hotel in Round Rock, Texas where officers waited outside for him to come out. Once he did, they followed him until he was forced into a ditch on the side of I-35 and he then proceeded to detonate a bomb instantly killing himself but injuring no officers.

According to a CNN article, Fred Milanowski, the special agent in charge for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Houston office said one room in the house in Pflugerville where Conditt lived had parts for making bombs like the ones that exploded this month, there was also similar homemade explosive material in the room, but no finished bombs were found.

It’s pretty safe to say the bombings are over, and no other pre-placed bombs have been found or have gone off.