
It has been eight days since the man behind a series of deadly bombings in Austin, Texas, killed himself in an explosion; about 10 days since authorities first referred to the killer as a âserial bomberâ; 16 days since authorities confirmed suspicions about the connection between the occurring explosions; and 27 days since the first victim was killed in what police originally called an âisolated incident.â And finally, for the first time since all of this, Austinâs police chief is calling the killerâresponsible for the explosions that killed two and seriously injured four othersâa âdomestic terrorist.â
As the Associated Press notes, Austin Police Chief Brian Manley had been hesitant about calling the bombings what they were an act of domestic terrorism, citing the ongoing investigation. That hesitancy came to an end Thursday when Manley formally called the bomber a âdomestic terrorist for what he did to us.â
Mark Conditt, the white terrorist behind the series of attacks, blew himself up as authorities closed in on him March 21. He had been identified as the suspect responsible for leaving several package bombs around Austin, including one that was triggered by a tripwire in a residential area, and attempting to mail at least one package bomb through a local FedEx.
Manley had previously called Conditt a âvery troubled young manâ (because white), which naturally drew swift criticism because that characterization is rarely afforded to people of color.
Now, I suppose, there has been enough investigation (and outcry) for Manley to call Conditt what he was.
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âThis is a distinction I wanted to make today,â Manley said at a panel discussion on Thursday, the Austin-American Statesman reports.Â
Manley claimed that he was trying to be sensitive about the terms he used, knowing that the case would end up in the legal system.
âI was so focused that we put a stop to it,â the chief said, adding that he was now comfortable calling the bombings domestic terrorism.
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An audience member, Kristina Brown, said that Manleyâs change of terms came âtoo little, too late.â
âWe donât know, we will not know, what that qualification more early in the investigation would have done, what resources would have been provided to make sure that more lives were not lost,â Brown said.
âThe way the media covered this story, this âtroubled young man.â Was the young man troubled? Absolutely. But he was a troubled young man that turned out to be a terrorist,â Austin Justice Coalition leader Chas Moore said. âBecause he was white, we gave him the benefit of being a human first.â
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In addition to discussing the attacks, the panelists touched on the racial tensions that were stirred up in the wake of the bombings and the investigation. Some folks believed that the attacks were racially motivated because the first three victims were black or Hispanic. Manley, however, said that a recorded âconfessionâ left by Conditt revealed that his motives were neither racial nor political.
Moore referred to the âmythâ that Austin is a âbig, beautiful, diverse pie,â saying, âOur white brothers and sisters are going to have to learn how to be comfortable while being uncomfortable talking about race.â

