Update as of 3.21.18 8:16 AM: 

The lead suspect in the Austin, Texas bombings has blown himself up according to multiple reports and authorities in Texas. FBI and police were closing in on the 24-year-old still unnamed man said to be terrorizing the city over the last several months. Austin police encountered the suspect in a hotel parking lot some 18 miles north of Austin. However, the suspect drove away and SWAT officers pursued him. Then he stopped on Interstate 35 and detonated a bomb killing himself and injuring one of the officers on the scene. Read the full story here.

Update as of 3.20.18:  Another bomb has exploded in Texas. Liberty Nation’s man on the ground in Austin, Jeff Charles, gives us this update:

Shortly after midnight on Tuesday morning, a package exploded in a FedEx distribution center near San Antonio, TX. The authorities state that the package was headed to Austin. While nobody received serious injuries, one woman was treated for a concussion.

According to CBS Austin, the package contained various types of shrapnel, including nails and metal shards. FBI Special Agent Michelle Lee indicated that the authorities suspect that the bombing in San Antonio is related to the others in Austin. Austin Interim Police Chief Brian Manley released a statement this morning stating that the Austin Police Department is working with the FBI and ATF on the investigation.

Original article:

Over the past month, the City of Austin, TX has experienced a chain of bombings that have claimed the lives of three people. The perpetrator remains at large despite the efforts of the Austin Police Department and federal authorities.

These attacks have no clear motive — and law enforcement has called on the bomber to make his intentions known without response. Nevertheless, numerous theories have made their way into the national conversation.

Four Bombings In A Month

The bombings started on March 2 when 39-year-old Anthony House was killed by a package bomb at his home. On March 12, the bomber detonated two separate bombs, one of which killed 17-year-old Draylen Mason. The other explosive injured Esperanza Herrera. In each case, the package was left at the doorsteps of the victims.

On Sunday, the perpetrator left the bomb on a residential sidewalk rather than leaving it on a doorstep. The explosion injured two men who are expected to survive the attack.

Austin police have announced that they believe the four bombings are connected. They state that the explosive device used on Sunday differed from the other three in that it possibly used a trip-wire. “It is very possible that this device was a device activated by someone either handlings, kicking or coming in contact with a tripwire that activated the device,” Interim Police Chief Brian Manley told reporters. He warned Austinites that they should not handle any unfamiliar packages.

Who Is The Austin Bomber?

So far, the police do not know what has motivated the bombings. Interim Police Chief Brian Manley told reporters that he believes the attacks are intended to send a message, but he does not know what the killer is trying to say. “We don’t know what the ideology is behind this or what the motive is behind this,” he said.

Law enforcement has asked the perpetrator to communicate his message. “These events in Austin have garnered worldwide attention, and we assure you that we are listening,” Manley said. “We want to understand what brought you to this point, and we want to listen to you.”

The authorities have increased the reward offered for information leading to the capture of the bomber. In addition to the Austin Police Department, over 500 federal agents are assisting with the investigation.

Earlier in the month, left-wing media outlets have propagated the theory that the bomber is a white supremacist. They cite the fact that his earlier victims were minorities. However, the bombing on Sunday injured two white men, so the perpetrator’s motivation is still unclear.

Others have speculated that the attacks are related to Islamic terrorism. However, the terrorist group has not yet claimed credit for the attacks — which is their usual modus operandi. Chief Manley has stated that these attacks look like the work of a serial bomber.

One thing is for sure, these bombings have caused a great deal of concern among Austinites. However, it is not causing a panic. As someone living in this city, I can attest to the fact that while people are worried, we know that eventually, the authorities will apprehend this murderer.

As Americans, it’s best for us to refrain from pointing fingers and making preemptive accusations — we have no idea who this person is or what is motivating their actions. We must also be careful not to politicize these incidents before we know all the facts. Situations like these make it easier for divisive people to cause further strife between us. Let’s see how this turns out before jumping to conclusions.