By Steve Neavling
Ticklethewire.com
The suspected serial bomber who has terrorized Austin, Texas, in a deadly string of explosions this month blew himself up in his car after a brief police pursuit early Wednesday morning, local and federal law enforcement officials told reporters at 6 a.m.
An Austin police officer suffered minor injuries in the explosion.
Acting on numerous tips, authorities tracked down the 24-year-old white man in a car in the rear of a hotel along Interstate 35 in the Austin suburb of Round Rock.
While police waited for ballistic vehicles to arrive, the suspect drove off, prompting a brief chase that ended when the suspect stopped in a ditch on the side of the road. As the SWAT team approached, the suspect detonated a bomb, injuring one officer and prompting another to fire his weapon.
The suspect, who was gravely injured, was struck with a bullet and died said Austin Interim Police Chief Brian Manley.
Authorities warned residents that more bombs may be planted in the city or en route to homes from mail facilities.
Police also said it’s not yet clear whether the suspect had an accomplice.
The suspect is accused of planting four bombs in packages in Austin, killing two people and injuring four others.
Manley said the suspect also is responsible for a package bomb that exploded at a FedEx near San Antonio, and officials said it was intended to be delivered to Austin.
Earlier this week, police suggested the serial bombings were racially motivated and targeted people of color. But police have backed off that theory.
“We do not understand what motivated him to do what he did,” Manley said.
