Austin bombings: Police hunt for motive as they search home of suspect Mark Anthony Conditt - as it happened
Federal officials believe that are likely no more devices in the public domain
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The suspect thought to be behind a spate of bomb attacks in Austin, Texas, has been killed in an explosion after being cornered by police.
Police in Texas are hunting for clues as to what drove the unemployed young man to apparently launch a bombing spree that terrorised the region.
While searching for possible accomplices and warning people to be on the alert for suspicious packages, officials said that 23-year-old Mark Anthony Conditt is suspected of posting and triggering the bombs that killed two people and injured six.
The young man ended three weeks of anxiety and violence in the early hours of Wednesday when he blew himself up by the side of a road, apparently detonating a device in his vehicle as authorities closed in on him.
“The suspect is deceased and has significant injuries from a blast that occurred from detonating a bomb inside his vehicle,” Austin police chief Brian Manley told reporters on Wednesday.
The suspect lived with two housemates in Pflugerville, a town located 20 miles north-east of Austin. A local politician told a television channel it appeared Conditt had purchased materials to make his bombs from a Home Depot hardware store in Austin.
Reports said among the items he purchased were five signs that read: “CAUTION CHILDREN AT PLAY”. A tripwire bomb that injured two men on Sunday was tied to one of the signs.
Follow the latest developments on this breaking story below:
Please allow a moment for our live blog to load
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said the suspect had not served in the military. Although He said his flatmates were cooperating with police.
He said police used mobile traffic data to put the suspect at the site of the explosions around Austin. He said the suspect’s phone number had been used to allow investigators close in on him.
The governor said that as police continued their investigation, people should be on the lookout for anything suspicious.
Throughout the day on Wednesday, police enforced evacuations of homes and businesses around Austin and the town of Pflugerville where the suspect lived in order to search for more bombs.
But federal officials now believe with a “reasonable level of certainty” that there are no more devices “out in the public”.
A neighbour who watched the Austin bombing suspect grow up says he "always seemed like he was smart" and "polite."
Jeff Reeb said that he has lived next to the parents of Mark Anthony Conditt for about 17 years and that they are good neighbors.
he parents live a few miles from the Pflugerville home where Mark Conditt lived with roommates.
Pflugerville police have begun evacuating the area around the home of the Austin bombings suspect and federal authorities are preparing to deploy an anti-explosives robot.
Pflugerville police commander Keith Ritchie said the FBI told local police to evacuate the area late on Wednesday morning.
Reporters waiting nearby are being pushed back and neighbors are being evacuated from their homes.
Mr Ritchie says the order came after investigators searched the suspect's home and surrounding area, but he was not sure what prompted it.
A Republican congressman from Texas has said the Austin bombing suspect bought a lot of his bomb-making equipment from a Home Depot store in his hometown.
US Congressman Michael McCaul, a Republican from Austin who is chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, told KXAN-TV that authorities retraced the suspect's steps after he was caught on surveillance video at an Austin-area FedEx store. Mr McCaul said investigators obtained the suspect's license plate number and were able to identify him, then track what he purchased at a Home Depot.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has said the mobile phone number of the Austin bombing suspect was of interest to law enforcement before he was captured on surveillance video at a FedEx store.
Mr Abbott told reporters on Wednesday that authorities used mobile phone traffic data to put the suspect at the site of the explosions around Austin. He said the suspect's phone number drew the attention of investigators.
Mr Abbott also said that among the items the suspect purchased at a Home Depot were five signs saying "CAUTION CHILDREN AT PLAY." He said he was told a tripwire that injured two men on Sunday in southwest Austin was tied to one of the signs, which would be consistent with what authorities have previously said about how the explosive was rigged.
The suspect's aunt has issued a statement in which she said the family had no idea he was involved in such a “an awful way”.
“We had no idea of the darkness Mark must have been in,” she said. “Our family is a normal family in every way. We love, we pray and we try to inspire and serve others. Right now our prayers are with those families that have lost loved ones, for those impacted in any way, and for the soul of Mark.”
Authorities have detained two people who lived with bombing suspect Mark Conditt.
Austin police said Wednesday that one roommate was questioned and later released, while the second was still being held for questioning.
A friend of the suspected Austin bomber says he was an assertive person who would end up being "dominant and intimidating in conversation."
Jeremiah Jensen tells the Austin American-Statesman that he was close to Mark Anthony Conditt in 2012 and 2013. Jensen says they were both homeschooled in the same Pflugerville community and he would often go to the Conditt home for lunch after church on Sundays. He says they also attended Bible study and other activities together.
An official with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has said the agency is reasonably certain there are no other devices "out in the public," but he urges caution.
ATF Special Agent in Charge Fred Milanowski made the comments at an afternoon news conference. FBI agent Chris Combs echoed Mr Milanowski's sentiment, saying "we think we're on top of this, but we just don't know."
On Twitter, Austin police asked the public to "remain vigilant."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments