Bombs Kill, Injure Private Citizens In Austin; SXSW Guests Told ‘Be Aware’

A pair of bomb attacks have killed one and injured two people in Austin, Texas, today, making a total of three attacks on private citizens in the last two weeks, as the city’s famous SXSW festival continues.

Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman via AP – Austin Bombing
Authorities are investigating the scene in East Austin, Texas, after a teenager was killed and a woman was injured in the second Austin package explosion in the past two weeks Monday, March 12, 2018.

All of the bombs have been left on the doorsteps of private residences, and have been handled or opened by the victims in some way, causing detonation. Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said in a press conference he did not have any suspected ideology or reasoning behind the attacks, and implored the public for any information, saying he was “not ruling anything out.” It is not believed the packages were delivered using any mail service.

Manley, flanked by FBI, the mayor and other city officials at the press conference, said he did not want SXSW visitors to be “overly alarmed” but he wanted them to be aware of the situation. He asked residents to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious or unwanted packages. 

Manley said the most recent explosion was reported at 11:50 a.m. and that the victim was a 75-year-old Hispanic female. Her injuries were considered life threatening at press time.

The previous attack was reported today at 6:44 a.m. Authorities responded and found two injured. One 17-year-old died of his injuries and another, an adult female, was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries a police department spokesperson said.

The first bombing occurred March 2, when another Austin resident also found an unexpected package on their doorstep and handled it, which caused its explosion, killing them. That death is now being investigated as a homicide. Police suspect the three incidents are linked.

Security has been a huge priority at SXSW since a DUI car crash killed four in 2014. Police regularly show up in full force during the event, with the department telling KXAN-TV it was spending around $1.5 million on overtime.

A spokesperson for SXSW told Pollstar in a statement: “Safety is and always has been a top priority for SXSW. We continue to work with law enforcement and our venues to address the safety of SXSW attendees. At this time the Austin Police Department does not believe that the incidents are connected to the event. The substantial security operation already in place for SXSW has been instructed to be extra vigilant.” 

Maps4News/HERE; AP Reporting – Austin Bombing
The locations of the three recent Austin bombings, which police now suspect are linked.