Austin bombings: Police find 'confession' but still seeking motive for ‘challenged young man’

Suspect did not mention terrorism or hate, Austin police chief says

The Austin bomber's car (kvue)

Police in Austin say they have found a "confession" recorded by the suspect in a string of bombings in Texas but that it did not elucidate a potential motive.

A series of explosions have killed two people and injured five, sending fear rippling across the state.

A manhunt came to a dramatic end as Austin Police said suspected bomber Mark Anthony Conditt set off a bomb, killing himself, after fleeing police officers and driving into a ditch.

Austin Police Chief, Brian Manley, said investigators located a phone containing a 25-minute recording in which the suspect “talks about what he has done”.

“I would classify this as a confession,” Mr Manley said.

In the recording, Mr Manley said, the speaker identifies six bombs discovered in recent days - and another explosive device he detonated as officers closed in - with enough specificity to corroborate his identity as the bomber.

“We still want our community to remain vigilant,” Mr Manley said, but “we have accounted for the devices that we have known about.”

But Mr Manley said the recording did little to explain why Mr Conditt may carried out the bombings, calling it “the outcry of a very challenged young man talking about challenges in his personal life”.

“He does not at all mention anything about terrorism. Nor does he mention hate,” Mr Manley said.