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”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments