U.S. President Donald Trump praised Texas law enforcement following reports that the suspected Austin serial bomber had taken his own life Wednesday as authorities closed in on him.
“AUSTIN BOMBING SUSPECT IS DEAD. Great job by law enforcement and all concerned!” the president tweeted.
Austin police said the suspect in the spate of bomb attacks that killed two people and injured four others took his life with an explosive device as a Texas SWAT team approached the bomber’s vehicle.
“The suspect is deceased and has significant injuries from a blast that occurred from detonating a bomb inside his vehicle,” Austin police Chief Brian Manley told reporters.
Authorities have yet to identify the bomber, only to describe the suspect as a 24-year-old white male.
Police had tracked the suspect to a hotel just outside of Austin. While authorities were waiting for an armoured vehicle to arrive to approach the bomber, the suspect drove off. Authorities followed the vehicle which ran into a ditch on the side of the road, the police chief said.
When members of the SWAT team approached, the suspect detonated an explosive device inside the vehicle, the police chief said. The blast knocked back one officer, while a second officer fired his weapon, Manley said.
WATCH: Reported incident at Austin Goodwill not an explosive device
Officials in Austin said they are dealing with a suspected serial bomber after four package bombs exploded in the state capital in the past month. On Sunday, two people were injured after a bomb, which was triggered by a tripwire, detonated. Officials said two men were out for a walk when police say they may have crossed a tripwire, triggering the blast.
READ MORE: Incendiary device found in package at Goodwill store in Austin
In the first three bombings, cardboard packages were delivered to the front doors of houses in the middle of the night. Victims would then open the packages on their front porches.
In Sunday’s bombing, a thin translucent tripwire like fishing line was placed near a hiking trail. Police said it was a more advanced design than the previous bombs.
Officials are still unclear as to a motive behind the explosions.
–with a file from the Associated Press
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