UPDATE 4:00 AM: Law Enforcement Investigating Suspicious Package At FedEx Facilities After Explosion

“The President of the United States mourns the victims of the recent bombings in Austin. We are monitoring the situation; federal authorities are coordinating with local officials. We are committed to bringing perpetrators of these heinous acts to justice.” ~ Sarah Sanders, White House Press Secretary.

By, Terra Rivers, Managing Editor

UPDATE 4:00 AM:

Around 2:46 AM, Austin Police Department reported they were investigating an “officer involved shooting” in the 1700 block of N. IH-35.

As of 4:00 AM, the preliminary report is that the serial bombing suspect, who has killed two and injured five, in the last nineteen days is deceased; his death is right now being reported as self-inflicted. The suspect allegedly detonated a bomb on scene.

I-35 North is open, however, I-35 South will be closed including the access road, for the next 4-6 hours. Info is coming in extremely fast. FBI, ATF, DEA, Bomb Squad, Round Rock PD & Austin PD are all on the scene. We will update as soon as we get more information.

UPDATE 8:12 PM:

Austin Police Department released the following on Twitter.

“There was no package explosion in the 9800 block of Brodie Ln. Items inside package was not a bomb, rather an incendiary device. At this time, we have no reason to believe this incident is related to previous package bombs.”

UPDATE 7:30 PM:

Emergency crews are responding to an explosion at the Goodwill store on Brodie Lane next to the Randalls at Slaughter Lane and Brodie. A 30-year-old man has suffered serious injures but is expected to survive officials report. All preliminary. More information to come.

UPDATE 6:48 PM:

The FBI have just confirmed that the bomb, which exploded on the conveyor belt at the FedEx Facility in Schertz and the suspicious package at the FedEx Facility near AIBA in Austin are connected to the serial bomber.

UPDATE: 6:18 PM

Investigators may have caught surveillance footage of the suspect. FBI told Kxan, they will release a statement tonight about their investigation at the FedEx Office on Brodie Lane in Sunset Valley.

FedEx released the following statement early this morning after the explosion at their Schertz facility.

Officials have not released any information about the current status of the investigation of the suspicious package at the FedEx distribution center on McKinney Falls Parkway near AIBA.

However, the Austin-Statesman reported that Rep. Lloyd Doggett had confirmed it was a bomb. The unexploded package could potentially provide investigators with a breakthrough in the case. Officials have not released an update on the status of the package or where they stand.

FedEx employees have been told to they will return to work tomorrow morning.

Local Austin packing services are reacting to the recent explosions; at least one store has changed its policies to require customers to open their packages and show them the contents before employees will even print the labels. Another has recommended the employees of its 12 locations do the same. 

UPDATE: 5:08 PM

Rep. Lloyd Doggett confirmed that the suspicious package at the Austin FedEx distribution center was a bomb to the Austin-Statesman.

UPDATE: 3:00 PM

APD officer said she does not know of a detonation of the suspicious package anytime soon; officials are still investigating the package. “We’re taking all reports of suspicious packages very seriously.”

Austin Police Officers are investigating a suspicious package at the FedEx building near the Austin Bergstrom International Airport.

Authorities responded to the facility when a call came in around 6:20 AM this morning. Police have the facility closed down and the entrances to the facility blocked.

The facility was evacuated, and drivers are gathered outside the facility. Officials have not confirmed whether a bomb has indeed been found as of yet.

Austin Police Chief Brian Manley told Austin City Council that the bomb squad is investigating a suspicious package within the facility.

The investigation comes after a bomb exploded at a FedEx distribution center in Schertz, Texas, between San Antonio and New Braunfels.

In Schertz, the explosion went off around 12:25 AM; one person was treated for minor injuries and released on the scene. Seventy-five employees were evacuated.  

Schertz Police said the package was in the sorting area of the facility when it went off.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation spokesperson said they did not know where the package came from or whether it is linked with the Austin incidents.

However, officials said they do not believe the Schertz facility was not the target.

CORRECTION: San Antonio Police stated that original reports of a second package loaded with explosives at the Schertz facility were incorrect; there was no second package. 

According to the San Antonio Chief of Police, there were two packages with explosives in the facility; one of them did not explode and has since been removed from the building.

After the fourth explosion in the Austin area in the last three weeks, Chief Manley asked the public again to pay attention to their surroundings and report anything suspicious including bags, backpacks and packages.

On Sunday, March 18, an explosion happened in Travis Country; two people were injured and taken to the hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries. Police kept the neighborhood under a shelter-in-place for most of the day while they searched the scene for clues.

In a press conference yesterday, Chief Manley said they believed the fourth explosion had used a trip wire to trigger it unlike the previous three.

The March 2 and the two March 12 bombs had been delivered to the victims’ homes and had detonated when they were being handled or opened. So far, the bombings have killed two people and injured four.

Chief Manley said that they believe the suspect behind the explosions to be a serial bomber, and they do believe all of the Austin incidents, at least, are connected based on the materials used in the bombs.

“The Austin Police Department is aware of the incident that has occurred in Schertz, Texas and is working closely on the investigation with our federal partners, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives,” said Manley. “I want to continue to remind our community to pay close attention to any suspicious device whether it be a package, a bag, a backpack or anything that looks out of place, do not approach it. Call 9-1-1 immediately. Also remember do not move, touch or open unexpected/suspicious packages.”

This is a developing story and will be updated as information is released.