TX - Austin Package Bombs

[Elley Mae]

Map here of locations.


http://kxan.com

 

[Christineisfab]

From: http://m.brownsvilleherald.com/news...100-d1fb-5f9c-a62c-98b0fd762ebb.html?mode=jqm

The latest explosions happened during the South by Southwest music, film and technology festival, which brings about 400,000 visitors to Austin each year. The explosions happened far from the main events of the festival, and there was no immediate word from organizers about additional safety precautions being taken.

For the record, you can see here that the third explosion was only about 5 miles from the Convention Center. I assume the article implies that it's far enough away that it's not a connection, but that's pretty scary to me.

 

[matou]

Seems like highway 35 could be the quickest route used to get to the bomb locations.

 

[leyash]

Seems like highway 35 could be the quickest route used to get to the bomb locations.

Yes. You can get to any of these locations and be on IH35 within 1-2 minutes.

 

[leyash]

The last two explosions were in East Austin, not considered the greatest part of town. I am worried that they won't find any working cameras. But then again, I could be wrong, and maybe MOST people will have cameras. Will be interesting to see how it works out.

 

[Elley Mae]

Just looked at maps/traffic, bunch of streets closed. Wonder if that for the festival.

From: http://m.brownsvilleherald.com/news...100-d1fb-5f9c-a62c-98b0fd762ebb.html?mode=jqm




For the record, you can see here that the third explosion was only about 5 miles from the Convention Center. I assume the article implies that it's far enough away that it's not a connection, but that's pretty scary to me.

 

[leyash]

Just looked at maps/traffic, bunch of streets closed. Wonder if that for the festival.

Yes. Almost all of downtown (roads) will be closed due to SXSW. It's a HUGE music event here. Hundreds of thousands of people, typically.

 

[leyash]

For anyone looking at maps, HWY 183, LOOP 1 (MoPac), and IH35 are our main highways here. And all three of them are VERY easily accessible from all of the locations where the bombs were.

 

[EuTuCroquet?]

Scary. This might have been mentioned upthread; I could have missed it.

South by Southwest started March 9 and ends March 18.

It draws close to half a million people to Austin. Top musicians, entertainers, parties, podcasts, exhibitions, official parties, trade show, conference, concerts, film, tech/interactive, etc.

Some random numbers, for the unfamiliar (rounded from the sxsw 2017 info)

286,000 = festivals attendees
168,000 = official music showcase attendance
2,100 = music acts
2,800 = total performances
554 = international acts
71,000 = conference attendees
5,100 = conference speakers
4,100 = media/press attendees
2,100 = conference selections
95 = countries represented by conference registrants
75,000 = trade show attendance
620 = trade show booths
27 = countries represented at trade show spaces
1,100 = parties and official events
70,500 = film fest attendees
4,100 = outdoor film screening attendance
47,500 = gaming festival attendance
35 = comedy showcases
43,000 = flatstock 59/marketplace attendance
65,000 = consumer exhibitions attendance
51,000 = hotel rooms booked

More about the festival: https://www.sxsw.com/

 

[PrairieWind]

EuTuCroquet, the timing is certainly curious. In some way related to SXSW? Of course the first bomb was well before, so maybe not.

 

[leyash]

I don't know why... I feel like this is NOT related to SXSW.

I mean, not directly.

Maybe the suspects are thinking that with more people here, they will be harder to find? With 250,000+ more people in this already overpopulated city, it's definitely more likely that they would be harder to catch, but for some reason, I just don't think we need to worry about a bombing similar to the Boston bombing.

I could be wrong, but I really REALLY hope I'm not.

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

EuTuCroquet, the timing is certainly curious. In some way related to SXSW? Of course the first bomb was well before, so maybe not.

I'm thinking not, with nothing to base that on other than IMO

 

[Christineisfab]

I don't know why... I feel like this is NOT related to SXSW.

I mean, not directly.

Maybe the suspects are thinking that with more people here, they will be harder to find? With 250,000+ more people in this already overpopulated city, it's definitely more likely that they would be harder to catch, but for some reason, I just don't think we need to worry about a bombing similar to the Boston bombing.

I could be wrong, but I really REALLY hope I'm not.

Something tells me it's not connected as well, but it IS coincidental and I don't think it's far enough to not make SXSW'ers nervous (then again, everything makes me nervous, so who am I to say)

 

[CrimeDawg123]

Something tells me it's not connected as well, but it IS coincidental and I don't think it's far enough to not make SXSW'ers nervous (then again, everything makes me nervous, so who am I to say)

It wouldn't seem related to SXSW to me given it started 3/2 and hasn't been located in areas with a lot of SXSW activity. It makes me nervous, for sure, but I'll still be trying to catch some bands. I think APD is stretched pretty thin with so many people in town.

It may be that BP (Bomb Perp) is targeting African-Americans and Hispanics. However it is also likely he's just looking for neighborhoods without a lot of security cameras. Many people have cameras now and I'd be really surprised if there were not some footage somewhere in one of these 3 neighborhoods that could be helpful.

 

[leyash]

First address is released...

1112 Haverford Drive, Austin, 78753

https://www.facebook.com/HemaMullur...627472749856/1662788373767085/?type=3&theater

 

[sloane7777]

just wondering why you would think not a racial thing, they are all non white right? my BIL lives really close too he has a multi racial family , very scary to me that would be my first thought, a Hate crime!

 

[leyash]

This is a pretty nice neighborhood. I would be surprised if there weren't cameras SOMEWHERE.
The problem is, I don't know that they've nailed down a specific time that the package was dropped off, especially because the explosion happened at 6:55am. So unless APD can find a camera that points at this house specifically, they have a LOT of work to do on their end to link a car to a suspect over about a 12 hour period.

 

[SuzDuJour]

Article with pictures...
Second explosion rocks a home in Austin hours after a teen was killed

http://dailym.ai/2Gkca1D

 

[EuTuCroquet?]

This. (bbm) Have fun, CrimeDawg — please keep your eyes open and be aware of your surroundings. (Which I'm sure you already do, anyway!)

If ya end up going, I'd be interested in how you think people are reacting to it, whether they're even concerned, or why/why not. I made the trek down there for several years. Any bands you're eager to see this year? I always loooooooved the Flat Stock exhibits. $$$

It wouldn't seem related to SXSW to me given it started 3/2 and hasn't been located in areas with a lot of SXSW activity. It makes me nervous, for sure, but I'll still be trying to catch some bands. I think APD is stretched pretty thin with so many people in town.

It may be that BP (Bomb Perp) is targeting African-Americans and Hispanics. However it is also likely he's just looking for neighborhoods without a lot of security cameras. Many people have cameras now and I'd be really surprised if there were not some footage somewhere in one of these 3 neighborhoods that could be helpful.

 

[matou]

Location of three package explosions at homes in Austin, all east of Interstate 35. The Haverford Drive explosion, which killed a man, happened on March 2. The explosion on Oldfort Hills Drive happened early March 12 — killing a 17-year-old boy — followed several hours later by an explosion on Galindo Street. (KXAN Photo)

http://kxan.com/2018/03/12/one-dead-one-hurt-in-package-explosion-in-east-austin/