The Suspected Bomber Behind Austin Explosions Has Died

The man suspected of sending a number of parcel bombs in and around the Austin area, as well as possibly setting up a trip wire bomb in the city, was identified by police yesterday. Before police were able to approach the man, he set off a bomb in a parked car and was killed.

According to CNN, authorities traced 24-year-old Mark Anthony Conditt to Round Rock, Texas, a community about 20 miles north of the city of Austin. After an unsuccessful effort by law enforcement to corner the suspect in a hotel, SWAT teams followed Conditt’s vehicle to a ditch off of Interstate 35. As SWAT officers approached on foot, Conditt exploded a bomb in his parked car; though one officer was knocked back by the blast, his injuries are being reported as very minor.

Police began tracking the suspect after tracing receipts back to the initial drop-offs to a FedEx retail location in South Austin where surveillance showed a white man dropping off two packages while wearing white gloves and a cap. The videos were released to the public after they were recorded Sunday.

With the help of Google to gather information on the suspect’s online history, authorities were able to locate the suspect’s vehicle. But police still haven’t been able to find out much more about the suspect than what was revealed on security footage, and are still unsure of his motives or if he had accomplices. Police have acknowledged that the attacks may have been hate crimes.

“We don’t know where this suspect has spent his last 24 hours, and therefore we still need to remain vigilant to ensure that no other packages or devices have been left throughout the community,” Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said to reporters early Wednesday.

Conditt is believed to have been responsible for five explosions that took place between March 2 and March 19 in Austin and San Antonio, Texas.

Kat has been a writer, social media maven and mom for longer than she's willing to admit. She's also spent time in front of and behind the camera, interviewing celebs, politicians and acting as a producer for fashion and artistic photography shoots.
When she isn't writing for various orgs and publications, she's hanging with her kids, husband and French Bulldog, Peter, in Toronto, Canada.