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Serial bomber sought after fresh explosion leaves two hurt in Austin, Texas

Two people were killed and two others were injured in the previous explosions, which began on March 2.

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Officials work at the site of Sunday’s explosion (AP)

A suspected serial bomber has struck again in Austin, Texas, after the city was hit by its fourth explosion this month.

The new blast, which left two people in hospital, was triggered by a tripwire and demonstrated what police said was a “higher level of sophistication” than the package bombs used in the previous three attacks.

Two men in their 20s are in a stable condition after they were injured by an explosion as they walked along a street on Sunday night. Three earlier bombings, starting on March 2, have left two people dead and two others injured.

Austin police chief Brian Manley said: “We are clearly dealing with what we believe to be a serial bomber at this point, based on the similarities between now what is the fourth device” and the previous ones.

Police chief Brian Manley has urged people not to touch or approach strange packages (AP)
Police chief Brian Manley has urged people not to touch or approach strange packages (AP)

“Is this terrorism? Is this hate-related?” Mr Manley asked.

He said investigators will “have to determine if we see a specific ideology behind this”.

Mr Manley said the blast involved a tripwire, unlike the first three attacks, in which package bombs were left on people’s doorsteps. That represents a “significant change”, in that the previous bombings appeared targeted, while the latest one would have hurt any random person walking by.

The device this time entailed “a higher level of sophistication, a higher level of skill”, the police chief said.

The two men who were hurt in the latest explosion were white, while the previous victims were black or Hispanic (AP)
The two men who were hurt in the latest explosion were white, while the previous victims were black or Hispanic (AP)

The two injured men, who were aged 22 and 23, are white, unlike the victims in the earlier blasts, who were black or Hispanic.

Mr Manley warned people not to touch suspicious bags, boxes or backpacks, especially if they have wires protruding.

Mayor Steve Adler said the latest explosion would only raise anxieties in the city.

The FBI is assisting local authorities at the scene (AP)
The FBI is assisting local authorities at the scene (AP)

“That anxiousness is going to continue until we can find the answer,” Mr Adler said.

The latest explosion came hours after authorities raised a reward for information leading to the arrest of whoever is responsible for the first three explosions by 50,000 dollars (£35,000), to 115,000 dollars (£82,400).

The PGA’s Dell Technologies Match Play golf tournament is scheduled to begin in Austin on Wednesday, and dozens of the world’s top players are set to arrive the day before.

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