My take on Austin Bombings: the fourth bomb is a smokescreen. The changing of trigger, delivery and victims is meant to suggest a) more than one bomber b) a wider purpose and victimology to confuse investigators.
Bomb makers tend to perfect a particular type of bomb. Largely because it takes time to develop one that works effectively and doesn't blow up the maker. Too many styles mean the potential for a fatal error. As it is, many bomb makers end up missing fingers no matter how good they are.
According to the latest reports, the 4th bomb itself had similar materials and set up with the exception of the trip wire. The trip wire trying to indicate more than one bomb maker tries to suggest multiples of people involved. Where it may be more likely 1 (bomb maker) or possibly 2 (logistics/delivery/driver).
With the very close relationship of the first 3 bomb victims and the completely unrelated, unknown fourth victims, the bomber(s) made a mistake. Instead of obfuscating the purpose, relationship or motive for the earlier victims, it serves to focus attention on the first victims. Most importantly, the first victim.
In this type of event, with closely related victims in a serial bombing, it reflects certain aspects of serial killers. Meaning that the first victim is the most meaningful and closest to the killer.
The motive is unclear. People have speculated as to whether it is racial or related to the first victim's activism. That the killer went out of the way to target family members as well seems more personal. They also attended the same church.
What is completely amazing is that the last bomb was triggered by a trip wire across the road. Which would take time and effort. In the open.
Importantly, the police say they are reviewing video from local home owners' security cameras. That is something the bomber may have miscalculated. His other targets lived in busy, Urban areas, lower income, unlikely to have video. He may have gotten lax in his surveillance or simply been too focused on finding an unrelated location.
Another factor is that it appears to take the bomb maker a week to make a bomb. 10 to make 2. Delivered the packages before work hours on the weekday (early morning) and late Sunday. This is his free time. Which means he has a job. He may also live with someone who is unsuspecting and who he wants to avoid drawing attention by simply leaving earlier for work or going to run an errand (Sunday).
Obviously must have access to property where loud explosions would go unremarked or even unheard. Somewhere outside of the city limits. The bombing locations frame the I 35 corridor. This creates easy and multiple ingresses and egresses from the bomb sites. There are other surrounding major roadways and state highways that he can circle back to the major artery, avoiding road blocks.
The first bombs appear to be mercury switches that trigger on movement. They appear to be hand delivered and left on people's porches or steps. Police initially asked for assistance from the Postal Inspector and various delivery companies. No reports of anyone seeing who left the packages. No indication of type of vehicle.
The police may be withholding this information or it may be that it was very early in the morning and no one noticed. In the early hours, the delivery could be someone driving up to the house, delivering and getting back in the car to drive away.
The one that must bogle is the setting up of a trip wire on the 4th bomb that no one noticed happening.
Bomb makers tend to perfect a particular type of bomb. Largely because it takes time to develop one that works effectively and doesn't blow up the maker. Too many styles mean the potential for a fatal error. As it is, many bomb makers end up missing fingers no matter how good they are.
According to the latest reports, the 4th bomb itself had similar materials and set up with the exception of the trip wire. The trip wire trying to indicate more than one bomb maker tries to suggest multiples of people involved. Where it may be more likely 1 (bomb maker) or possibly 2 (logistics/delivery/driver).
With the very close relationship of the first 3 bomb victims and the completely unrelated, unknown fourth victims, the bomber(s) made a mistake. Instead of obfuscating the purpose, relationship or motive for the earlier victims, it serves to focus attention on the first victims. Most importantly, the first victim.
In this type of event, with closely related victims in a serial bombing, it reflects certain aspects of serial killers. Meaning that the first victim is the most meaningful and closest to the killer.
The motive is unclear. People have speculated as to whether it is racial or related to the first victim's activism. That the killer went out of the way to target family members as well seems more personal. They also attended the same church.
What is completely amazing is that the last bomb was triggered by a trip wire across the road. Which would take time and effort. In the open.
Importantly, the police say they are reviewing video from local home owners' security cameras. That is something the bomber may have miscalculated. His other targets lived in busy, Urban areas, lower income, unlikely to have video. He may have gotten lax in his surveillance or simply been too focused on finding an unrelated location.
Another factor is that it appears to take the bomb maker a week to make a bomb. 10 to make 2. Delivered the packages before work hours on the weekday (early morning) and late Sunday. This is his free time. Which means he has a job. He may also live with someone who is unsuspecting and who he wants to avoid drawing attention by simply leaving earlier for work or going to run an errand (Sunday).
Obviously must have access to property where loud explosions would go unremarked or even unheard. Somewhere outside of the city limits. The bombing locations frame the I 35 corridor. This creates easy and multiple ingresses and egresses from the bomb sites. There are other surrounding major roadways and state highways that he can circle back to the major artery, avoiding road blocks.
The first bombs appear to be mercury switches that trigger on movement. They appear to be hand delivered and left on people's porches or steps. Police initially asked for assistance from the Postal Inspector and various delivery companies. No reports of anyone seeing who left the packages. No indication of type of vehicle.
The police may be withholding this information or it may be that it was very early in the morning and no one noticed. In the early hours, the delivery could be someone driving up to the house, delivering and getting back in the car to drive away.
The one that must bogle is the setting up of a trip wire on the 4th bomb that no one noticed happening.
