New Austin incident not related to serial bombings, police say

A man was injured when he handled an artillery simulator.

March 20, 2018, 10:47 PM

Law enforcement officials said an incident involving an artillery simulator that went off in Austin, Texas, Tuesday evening is not related to a series of recent bombings.

The string of explosions in Austin, which have left two dead and injured others, has the city on edge and sparked hundreds of law enforcement to descend on the area. Earlier on Tuesday, a package detonated at a FedEx facility near San Antonio, injuring one.

Reports of a package explosion at a Goodwill store on Brodie Lane Tuesday night initially sparked panic, but police later said the incident involved an artillery simulator and was not connected to the so-called serial bomber terrorizing the area.

A male Goodwill employee was injured when he handled the device, police said in a press conference Tuesday. The device was one of two dropped off in a box at Goodwill, police said, adding that they will investigate who left the devices at the store.

Police said there was no reason to believe the incident was a copycat attempt related to the recent bombings.

An unexploded package bomb was discovered earlier Tuesday at the FedEx facility in Austin, Texas, two sources briefed on the investigation told ABC News, the sixth device connected to the serial bomber. Among the devices are five package bombs and one device involving a tripwire.

The intact package was discovered by FedEx workers, the company said in a statement, and could yield major clues in the hunt for the suspect.

"We have also confirmed that the individual responsible [for Tuesday morning's package bomb] also shipped a second package that has now been secured and turned over to law enforcement," FedEx said in its statement but did not reveal which of its facilities the package was discovered in.

PHOTO: Emergency crews and FBI agents were at this FedEx distribution facility in Schertz, Texas, near San Antonio this morning, trying to determine if a device that exploded is connected to a string of bombings in Austin, March 20, 2018.
Emergency crews and FBI agents were at this FedEx distribution facility in Schertz, Texas, near San Antonio this morning, trying to determine if a device that exploded there early Tuesday morning is connected to a string of bombings in Austin, March 20, 2018.

The two sources confirmed to ABC News the undetonated package was discovered at an Austin facility.

"We have provided law enforcement responsible for this investigation extensive evidence related to these packages and the individual that shipped them collected from our advanced technology security systems," FedEx said. "The safety and security measures in place across the FedEx networks are designed to protect the safety of our people, customers and communities, and to assist law enforcement as appropriate."

The FBI has discovered a link between packages involved in the Austin bombings and a mail delivery office at a strip mall in the neighboring city of Sunset Valley. Police cordoned off the area and were combing through the office today.

In his first public comments on the Texas bombings, which started March 2, President Donald Trump said the federal government is doing everything it can think of to catch the culprits.

"These are sick people and we need to find them immediately," Trump told reporters at the White House.

This morning's explosion in the San Antonio suburb of Schertz occurred about 12:45 a.m. at a FedEx facility. About 65 miles away, two men were injured Sunday night in the fourth bombing in 17 days to rock the Texas capital.

PHOTO: An employee wrapped in a blanket talks to a police officer after she was evacuated at a FedEx distribution center where a package exploded, March 20, 2018, in Schertz, Texas.
An employee wrapped in a blanket talks to a police officer after she was evacuated at a FedEx distribution center where a package exploded, March 20, 2018, in Schertz, Texas.

Austin Police Chief Brian Manley told the Austin City Council this morning that the package that exploded in Schertz originated at a facility in Austin that has been closed.

"A package had been traveling along an automated conveyor when it exploded," Schertz Police Chief Michael Hanson said at a news conference outside the Schertz FexEx facility this morning.

Hanson said the injured worker complained of "ringing in her ears," was treated at the scene and released.

Earlier today, police told ABC San Antonio affiliate KSAT-TV that the medium-sized box that exploded contained nails and metal shrapnel.

There were 75 people in the building at the time of the explosion, authorities said.

"This is a fluid investigation and we want the general public to know their safety is our No. 1 priority," said Frank Ortega, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives acting assistant special agent in charge.

PHOTO: According to Schertz police, an explosion took place at a FedEx distribution facility in Schertz, Texas, just after midnight, March 20, 2018.
According to Schertz police, an explosion took place at a FedEx distribution facility in Schertz, Texas, just after midnight, March 20, 2018.

He said the ATF's National Response Team and bomb-sniffing dogs were searching the facility for other possible explosives.

Manley cautioned Austin residents Tuesday to pay close attention to any suspicious device whether it be a package, a bag, a backpack "or anything that looks out of place" and advised residents to immediately call 911 and stay clear of the suspicious items.

Manley said Monday at a news conference on the Austin explosions, "Clearly we are dealing with a serial bomber."

PHOTO: Emergency crews and FBI agents were at this FedEx distribution facility in Schertz, Texas, near San Antonio, March 20, 2018.
Emergency crews and FBI agents were at this FedEx distribution facility in Schertz, Texas, near San Antonio, March 20, 2018.

Austin residents have been on edge for a month after the series of bombings. The first three bombings were packages, apparently hand-delivered and left on porches of homes before exploding when picked up by residents, police said.

A box exploded at a FedEx shipping facility in Schertz, Texas, on Tuesday, March 20, 2018. No one suffered serious injuries.
A box exploded at a FedEx shipping facility in Schertz, Texas, on Tuesday, March 20, 2018. No one suffered serious injuries.

The fourth explosion took place Sunday night. Two men, ages 22 and 23, were injured in that blast, which was caused by a device using a tripwire on a sidewalk in the Travis Country neighborhood of Austin.

ABC News' Jack Date contributed to this report.

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