The incidents of exploding packages around the city of Austin are still occurring, and the latest has injured more people just one day after SXSW cancelled The Roots and several planned concerts after bomb threats. Full story inside...
Two men have been rushed to the hospital with serious, but non life threatening life injuries in yet another explosion in Austin, Texas Sunday night.
Over the last few weeks, incidents of exploding packages being delivered to Austin area homes have been happening at an alarming rate. Police have been treating the sometimes fatal incidents as possible hate crimes as the victims have been black or hispanic. What's REALLY going on?!
Information about Sunday's victims has not yet been released.
FINAL: Critical Incident @ 4800blk Dawn Song Dr (correct incident address), Only 1 incident location has been confirmed. #ATCEMSMedics have transported X2 ~20's Males to SAMC w/serious, but not expected to be life-threatening injuries. Refer all inquires to @Austin_Police
— ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) March 19, 2018
Re: Bomb Hotshot: Residents in immediate area of 4800 Dawn Song Dr., wait in your homes and follow instructions of officers if/when given. APD PIO
— Austin Police Dept (@Austin_Police) March 19, 2018
While there is no word yet if this is related to three previous explosions that happened earlier this month that killed two and injured two, authorities are treating the incident with an abundance of caution.
Dawn Song residents have been ordered not to leave their homes until daylight. Schools will also be delayed for two hours tomorrow.
ABC 7 News reports:
APD Chief Brian Manley says residents within half mile radius of Dawn Song Drive are advised to stay inside or avoid the area until daylight, and that police are investigating a second item--a backpack--found in the neighborhood.
The FBI and ATF are on the scene to assist in the investigation.
An emergency alert also just went out to many phones of people in Austin to stay inside:
Cell phone emergency alert sent to residents in the Mopac/Southwest Parkway area as police, FBI and ATF investigate explosion that seriously injured two men tonight. #austin#explosionpic.twitter.com/WVFTjFRkwE
— MelanieTorre (@melanietorre) March 19, 2018
Austin police's Chief Manley says his department, as well as the FBI and other groups, are offering a combined $110,000 reward for any information surrounding these exploding packages. He just gave a brief update on the current situation, urging everyone to stay inside as they investigate a suspicious backpack:
Initial Statement from Chief Manley regarding explosion https://t.co/CCydXhmQ8e
— Austin Police Dept (@Austin_Police) March 19, 2018
VIDEO: Retreat at Travis Country subdision closed off and surrounded with APD, AFD, FBI and ATF. @chief_manley says it will be “daylight at minimum” before residents are allowed out or in. Investigators are sweeping the area for safety. #austin#explosionpic.twitter.com/GkvE66W3Kp
— MelanieTorre (@melanietorre) March 19, 2018
No other updates will be given until the morning.
— The Roots (@theroots) March 18, 2018
The popular SXSW (South by Southwest) festival is currently going down in the southern city as well. Festival organizers and sponsors have been cancelling concerts left and right all weekend due to bomb threats. The Roots' big concert was cancelled Saturday night before the perp making a bomb threat to their particular show was actually caught.
https://t.co/NYmAcIKBv8 (thx @craftyiscool) no one is Mr “show must go on” than me. But we can’t risk our lives if we are told there was a bomb threat. I’m sure we will return to Austin ladies and gentlemen. Thanks for understanding.
— T'Questlove (@questlove) March 18, 2018
Ludacris was set to perform during their show, and posted up video from rehearsal right before Saturday's cancellation.
Drummer Questlove even had to check a Twitter follower about being mad about the cancellation:
But you still whining about not seeing a show after you were told (& tweeted you DIDNT BELIEVE) what happened....doesn’t make you look....selfish tho ? But nevermind safety just “shut up & play yer show!” right? https://t.co/2FpRl5irIm
— T'Questlove (@questlove) March 18, 2018
Bloop.
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