SAPD Sends Bomb Technicians, Dog to Austin After Tripwire Explosion

APD initially asked homeowners within a half-mile radius of the intersection of Dawn Song Drive at Republic of Texas Boulevard to stay inside their homes until 10 a.m. Monday, but extended that time to 2 p.m. Republic of Texas Boulevard is blocked between Missions Oaks and Travis Country Boulevard.

The Sunday night explosion, which left two people wounded, appears to have been ignited using a trip wire, officials said.

The three prior bombs were left as packages on doorsteps, while Manley said Sunday’s device was different: It was placed on the side of the road.

His early-morning tweets regarding the September bombing in the London Underground led British Prime Minister Theresa May to say it is “never helpful for anyone to speculate on what is an ongoing investigation”.

Hours later a third bomb went off when 75-year-old Esperanza Herrera picked up a package that authorities and residents suspect was meant for somebody else.

In the earlier bombings, two African-American men were killed by packages left on their doorsteps, raising the possibility of a hate crime.

The second blast came more than a week later, on the morning of March 12, killing 17-year-old Draylen Mason. That represents a “significant change”, in that the previous bombings appeared targeted, while the latest one would have hurt any random person walking by, Manley said.

“The belief that we are dealing with someone who is using trip wires shows a higher level of sophistication, a higher level of skill”, Manley said.

Authorities have offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the bomber, plus an additional $15,000 is being offered by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s office.

“The last thing we want to have is another injury or another death in our community”, Manley said.

“I have full confidence that they’re going to find out who is responsible for this and then stop it”, Adler said.

Though police haven’t confirmed the nature of the explosion, most people on social media assumed this was another package bomb detonation.

Responding to reports that the latest explosion may have been detonated by a tripwire, Manley said it was possible that it was “activated by someone either handling, kicking or coming into contact with a tripwire that activated the device”. The three previous bombings happened two-plus weeks in residential neighborhoods east of Interstate 35, which divides the city.

Police said at this point that they believed that it was an isolated incident and not related to terrorism.

Fred Milanowski, agent in charge of the Houston division of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said the latest bomb was anchored to a metal yard sign near the head of a hiking trail.

Sunday’s bombing triggered a police curfew in the affluent Austin neighborhood called Travis Country, where some homes sell for $700,000 or more.

The first parcel bomb on 2 March killed Anthony Stephan House, a 39-year-old black man. Two bomb technicians and a bomb canine from SAPD will travel to Austin to help with the investigation of the bombings that have kept Austin on edge.

“There is an army of federal agents, we have state resources, so we are putting every resource available, this is the highest priority”, Adler told “GMA”.

Four bombs have exploded in Austin this month, and authorities believe they’re connected.

Officials have urged residents to call police with any tips they may have, even if the information seems to be “inconsequential”. “Again, airplanes go by and cars backfire so we didn’t think much of it”, says Malachowski.