Little is known of the Austin bomber’s motives but police have confirmed the 23 year old man’s identity as Mark Anthony Conditt. In 2013, a female relative posted on Facebook that she had “graduated Mark from high school” and that he was considering a “Mission Trip.”
After examining video from the Fed Ex office where Conditt had dropped two packages that contained explosive devices and numerous tips, police had identified the suspect and located his vehicle. Conditt detonated an explosive device as police approached his car. He died on the scene.
“Beginning within the past 24-36 hours we began to get information [on a] person of interest that moved to a suspect,” Manley told reporters. “Late last night and this morning we felt very comfortable that he was the suspect.”
The man was tracked to a hotel in Round Rock, Texas, after a car he was known to be driving was found. Police and federal agents moved in on the hotel, but were waiting for tactical backup—like armored vehicles—in order to take the suspected bomber into custody “as safely as possible.”
“While we were waiting for those vehicles to get here, much time had passed, and the vehicle started to drive away. We began following the vehicle, again waiting to get the tactical vehicles here so we could make a stop,” he added.
Conditt is suspected to have terrorized Austin and the greater area with 8 explosive devices over the past three weeks.
WHO IS MARK ANTHONY CONDITT? AUSTIN BOMBING SUSPECT IDENTIFIED BY POLICE
The first package bomb exploded on March 2 at 6:55 a.m., killing Anthony Stephan House, 39, at his home on the 1100 block of Haverford Drive in Austin.
On March 12, Draylen Mason, 17, was killed, and a woman seriously injured in a package-bomb explosion in the kitchen of a home on the 4800 block of Oldfort Hill Drive at 6:44 a.m.
At 11:50 a.m. the same day, Esperanza Herrera, 75, was severely injured in a package explosion while visiting her mother's home on the 6700 block of Galindo Street.
Two men in their 20s were seriously injured by the explosion on the 4800 block of Dawn Song Drive at about 8:30 p.m. on March 18.
Police said the device was left on the side of the road, and the two men were either cycling or pushing their bikes when the explosion occurred.
Both patients are in serious but not life-threatening condition, a spokesperson at St. David's South Austin Medical Center told CNN.
One person received a minor injury at a FedEx distribution facility in San Antonio on March 20 when a parcel destined for Austin exploded at around 12:30 a.m.
It contained an incendiary device. Police were called to a second suspicious package at a FedEx warehouse in Austin later that afternoon and found it contained a bomb.
Police are warning Austin residents to remain on alert for any suspicious packages that the bomber may have planted in the area.
Wednesday, Mar 21, 2018 · 3:07:43 PM +00:00 · igualdad
NBC News is now reporting that a blog where numerous conservative postings made by a Mark Conditt of Austin Community College may the work of the bomber. Conditt wrote in support for the death penalty and denounced gay marriage and abortion. He also also suggested doing away with the Sexual Offender Registry.
A 2012 blog, which appears to be part of a government class project at Austin Community College, lists the author as Mark Conditt of Pflugerville, Texas. Conditt is believed to have been a resident of Pflugerville, north of Austin.
NBC News could not immediately confirm if the blog belonged to the suspect, but public records show only one Mark Conditt in Pflugerville.
The blog espouses political beliefs, including entries describing why the author believes gay marriage should not be legalized and why the United States should do away with sex offender registration.