Update: Austin Police Department Assistant Chief Ely Reyes gave a brief statement at around 9:30 p.m. today and said an “artillery simulator” went off when a Goodwill employee tried to dispose of it.
Reyes said after investigation, police determined that there was no explosive device and confirmed that the incident was not related to the other five explosions that have taken place this month.
“A Goodwill employee had a found a box that someone had dropped out that contained some items that that employee didn’t think that the Goodwill wanted to have. He passed that box off to another employee who was told to dispose of the box. That employee took the box around the corner and upon looking inside of it, it had two small devices that were artillery simulators that looked like … some type of military momento,” he said at the news conference.
The employee sustained injuries on his hands and arms when one of the devices went off in his hands. He was transported to the hospital and is recovering. He has since been released from the hospital.
Reyes said that due to the recent package bombs, the police responded to this with federal authorities and first responders with the same precautions as any other explosive device. He added that there was no reason to believe that the incident was an attempt by a copycat.
Austin Police briefing on the incident at the Goodwill in SW Austin. https://t.co/BzfMWuh1Gh
— Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) March 21, 2018
Earlier report:
An explosion has injured a man at a Goodwill store in Austin, Texas, with police now confirming they believe the incident is not linked to the recent serial package bombings that have occurred over the past month.
The Austin Police Department responded to a reported explosion in 9600 block of Brodie Ln in south Austin on Tuesday evening, March 20.
#UPDATE: There was no package explosion in the 9800 block of Brodie Ln. Items inside package was not a bomb, rather an incendiary device. At this time, we have no reason to believe this incident is related to previous package bombs. #Breaking #packagebombmurders
— Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) March 21, 2018
The explosion occurred at a Goodwill store on Brodie Lane, the Austin Fire Department said. The building has been evacuated.
https://twitter.com/AustinFireInfo/status/976249645847449601
Austin-Travis County EMS said one man in his 30s has been transported to the hospital with “potentially serious” injuries. They are not expected to be life-threatening.
FINAL Multiple assets #ATCEMS @AustinFireInfo @Austin_Police on scene Brodie Ln/W Slaughter Ln (1902) reported explosion: #ATCEMSMedics transported ~30s male with potentially serious, not expected to be life threatening, injuries to St Davids South Austin. No further info avail.
— ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) March 21, 2018
Authorities confirmed about an hour after responding to the incident that they believe the explosion was not linked to the other five package bomb blasts seen in Texas — mainly in Austin.
The “items inside [the] package was not a bomb, rather an incendiary device. At this time, we have no reason to believe this incident is related to previous package bombs,” police said in a statement.
The five explosions over the past 18 days have killed two people and left five injured. Hundreds of federal and local investigators are working around the clock to identify perpetrators or a motive.
The first incident occurred in north Austin on March 2 where an explosive device inside a package blew up and killed a 39-old-man. The second blast from a package bomb occurred at a home in east Austin on March 12 and killed a 17-year-old man and injured a woman in her 40s, reported USA today.
A third explosion also occurred on March 12 which shared similarities with the first two incidents and injured a 75-year-old woman, reported the news station.
The fourth explosion occurred on March 18 on Dawn Song Drive in Austin which is believed to be activated by a tripwire.
The most recent incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday where a package bomb containing nails and metal shrapnel exploded at a FedEx distribution center in San Antonio injuring a female worker. The woman suffered minor injuries.
An unexploded sixth package containing explosive material was also discovered on Tuesday at a FedEx facility in south Austin. FedEx said in a statement that they believe this package was from “the individual responsible” for the fifth explosion at San Antonio.
Our statement on the incidents in Texas: https://t.co/RXBdu7vzqk pic.twitter.com/rYQFkkkwYU
— FedEx (@FedEx) March 20, 2018
Police have confirmed this afternoon that the two packages found in two separate FedEx facilities are linked to the earlier four explosions this month.
#AustinPD, @FBI and @AFTHou confirm that two packages located at two separate FedEx facilities in Austin/San Antonio area on 3/20/2018 are connected to the four previous package explosions that occurred between 3/2 and 3/18 in Austin, TX
— Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) March 20, 2018
Police have urged the suspect or suspects to surrender in a press conference on March 18. About 500 federal authorities have been sent to Austin to join the investigations.
The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are among those working with local officials in Austin, Schertz and San Antonio.
“We have agents from across the country. We have our national response team here. We have explosive detection canines here. We have intel research specialists,” Frank Ortega, acting assistant special agent in charge of the San Antonio ATF office, told reporters. “We’ve been working around the clock.”
Austin police tweeted some guidelines for the public, reminding residents to stay vigilant and look out for each other’s safety.
APD is asking the public to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious. If you come across ANYTHING that looks suspicious, DO NOT touch, handle or disturb it. Keep a safe distance and call 9-1-1 immediately. pic.twitter.com/BfFQZ95Kfe
— Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) March 20, 2018
Police are to brief the media tonight. Updates to come.
Reuters contributed to this report
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