Yet another explosion has rocked Texas, injuring a worker at a FedEx facility in San Antonio. The blast is the latest in a series of explosions that have left two dead and many more injured in and around Austin. The frequency and similarity of the attacks are leading police to hunt for a “serial bomber.”
The latest bomb was reportedly headed for Austin, when it detonated prematurely at the mail sorting facility just after midnight on Tuesday morning, according to CBS News. An FBI agent also told CBS that “it’s more than possible” that this package is related to the spate of other bombings in the state. Both the FBI and the ATF were at the scene Tuesday morning.
According to the Daily Mail, the latest explosion contained “nails and shrapnel” to inflict maximum injury on its victims.
The four other bombings have all occurred in the Austin area. The first took place on March 2, when a bomb was mailed to 39-year-old Anthony Stephen’s home, killing him instantly. Then, ten days later, on March 12, 17-year-old Draylen Mason was killed and a woman was seriously injured in a package explosion. The third and fourth explosions took place on March 12 and on Sunday, March 18.
Sunday’s bomb was detonated by an almost invisible tripwire that had been laid on a residential street. The authorities have said they are now dealing with devices with a “higher level of sophistication,” making the investigation increasingly urgent.
Texas is committed to providing every resource necessary to make sure these crimes are solved. Announcing emergency funding for @Austin_Police & Texas Rangers to assist in bomb investigations. https://t.co/Omixv7FNNy
— Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) March 19, 2018
“We’re clearly dealing with what we expect to be a serial bomber at this point based on the similarities between now what is the fourth device,” Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said in a press conference Monday. “[But] what we have seen now is a significant change from what appeared to be three very targeted attacks to what was last night an attack that would have hit a random victim that happened to walk by.”
The #FBI, ATF, and Austin Police Department seek the public's assistance with identifying the individual(s) responsible for the package bombs which injured and killed several Austin, Texas, residents. Reward offered: https://t.co/fcGIut3Ou8 pic.twitter.com/wjdbWZciQZ
— FBI Most Wanted (@FBIMostWanted) March 18, 2018
“So we’ve definitely seen a change in the method that this suspect or suspects are using,” Manley added.
In total two people are dead and four injured in the attacks, but no arrests have yet been made.