Weird and scary goings on in Austin. There have been a series of package bombs left at people's homes that have killed 2 and seriously injured several others. From what I have read, the packages were not delivered by the USPS or any delivery service but were likely left at the homes by the killer. They are described as small and average looking packages that contain very powerful bombs.

Most of the victims have been minorities and live in the poorer sections of Austin.

Hopefully they'll catch the person soon. They're warning people not to open any package you weren't expecting or don't recognize but with spring break, it's possible kids won't know about the killings.

ETA - took out the reference to hate crimes

They're not being considered possible hate crimes, the police just said that it can't be ruled out. When you have no motive and no suspects, you don't rule anything out. So, you are promoting a baseless conspiracy theory, but what else is new from the king of fake news.

I could just as easily say it's antifa, because it is a tactic that alt-left domestic terrorists are known to use, i.e. bill ayers and the weather underground.

If only we had a ban on assault bombs.

I doubt they are hate crimes or political. You aren't likely to get away with doing this in a suburban white neighborhood undetected. Probably convenience.

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It won't be long before every block in the country will have at least one video camera. I realize the bombs have been set off in poor neighborhoods but I would be surprised if they don't have some video already of the perpetrator.

I imagine they'll be stepping up the security for SXSW this week.

I'm sure now that he has Austin's attention, the next bomb will be in another town. Or maybe I have just watched too much Criminal Minds.

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(03-12-2018 09:40 PM)UofMstateU Wrote:  If only we had a ban on assault bombs.

Ban the boxes.

Quote:Most of the victims have been minorities and live in the poorer sections of Austin, so the bombs are being considered possible hate crimes.

Ahhhh, the soft bigotry of low expectations.

(03-12-2018 11:20 PM)GrayBeard Wrote:  

(03-12-2018 09:40 PM)UofMstateU Wrote:  If only we had a ban on assault bombs.

Ban the boxes.

that's actually a valid point .....

if one can purchase a 'licensed' package and walk out w/o immediately shipping after purchasing, it presents another option for something like this....

I'm very curious what the packaging looked like.....

I know I can go to USPS and buy a box that has their branding and take it home empty.....

this could easily impact how the shipping industry conducts business in the future.....

I'd be more worried about someone sticking an Amazon label on a package myself Stink.

But it also wouldn't be that tough at all to commandeer a delivery truck either. Many delivery companies (Fed Ex and UPS too) keep the vehicle running while they try to quickly get to a door and deliver a package. Hell even if they turn off the vehicle, what's to stop a bad guy from killing the driver and taking off with their vehicle. Might be the terrorism method of the future.

Try to get to know your regular delivery folks. USPS employees don't always wear uniforms; only city carriers are required to wear a uniform. Rural drivers generally are in street clothes. I think most Fed Ex and UPS folks are in uniforms. Not sure about DHL.

I edited my original post. I wasn't trying to suggest anything but obviously people won't believe that. I think the story is more important than any politics.

What detonated the boxes? Was it picking it up or opening it?

(03-13-2018 07:32 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  I'd be more worried about someone sticking an Amazon label on a package myself Stink.

But it also wouldn't be that tough at all to commandeer a delivery truck either. Many delivery companies (Fed Ex and UPS too) keep the vehicle running while they try to quickly get to a door and deliver a package. Hell even if they turn off the vehicle, what's to stop a bad guy from killing the driver and taking off with their vehicle. Might be the terrorism method of the future.

Try to get to know your regular delivery folks. USPS employees don't always wear uniforms; only city carriers are required to wear a uniform. Rural drivers generally are in street clothes. I think most Fed Ex and UPS folks are in uniforms. Not sure about DHL.

I edited my original post. I wasn't trying to suggest anything but obviously people won't believe that. I think the story is more important than any politics.

that was XACLY! my point....as shipping to one's residence becomes ubiquitous, the danger of this tactic becomes too easy.....

I've had things dropped off by mistake before......I don't fk with it.....

then again, I'm not an 8 yr. old or a curious female.....

this one is going to dig into the business/consumer model quickly.....

(03-13-2018 07:34 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  What detonated the boxes? Was it picking it up or opening it?

one would have to assume 'upon opening' as it has to be delivered....

I guess it could be a pressure release trigger when picked up.....although that would be much more dangerous if the designer was hand delivering....all he would have to do is stumble and blow himself up....

I'm not well versed on these thingys.....but I can imagine from a design perspective....

(03-13-2018 08:46 AM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(03-13-2018 07:34 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  What detonated the boxes? Was it picking it up or opening it?

one would have to assume 'upon opening' as it has to be delivered....

I guess it could be a pressure release trigger when picked up.....although that would be much more dangerous if the designer was hand delivering....all he would have to do is stumble and blow himself up....

I'm not well versed on these thingys.....but I can imagine from a design perspective....

I assume as well. It is also a crime to open something not addressed to you. I wonder if he is sticking name and address on the package, which certainly ups the sophistication. It also increases the likelihood that it was personal and targeted. The alternative is that he randomly selected the name and address from a web search of the address. That should be relatively easy to figure out if and where a search was performed on the address.

(03-13-2018 08:52 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(03-13-2018 08:46 AM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(03-13-2018 07:34 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  What detonated the boxes? Was it picking it up or opening it?

one would have to assume 'upon opening' as it has to be delivered....

I guess it could be a pressure release trigger when picked up.....although that would be much more dangerous if the designer was hand delivering....all he would have to do is stumble and blow himself up....

I'm not well versed on these thingys.....but I can imagine from a design perspective....

I assume as well. It is also a crime to open something not addressed to you. I wonder if he is sticking name and address on the package, which certainly ups the sophistication. It also increases the likelihood that it was personal and targeted. The alternative is that he randomly selected the name and address from a web search of the address. That should be relatively easy to figure out if and where a search was performed on the address.

the first thing I thought of was a different version of kaczynski....if so, he's going to be tough to figure out depending on his resources and motive to kill at random.....

it's the patient mensa killers that are the ones you need to fear......just like the zodiac killer....

hell, he may have 10+ other delivery methods in his psycho mind just waiting to pounce on.....

(03-13-2018 07:32 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  I edited my original post. I wasn't trying to suggest anything but obviously people won't believe that.

Thank you for retracting and disavowing your fake news.

(03-13-2018 09:01 AM)Kronke Wrote:  

(03-13-2018 07:32 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  I edited my original post. I wasn't trying to suggest anything but obviously people won't believe that.

Thank you for retracting and disavowing your fake news.

So you'll also disavow anyone floating a baseless conspiracy theory about the situation, right?

I don't disavow anyone with a theory. All we have at the moment is speculation. Hate crimes are sill in the realm of possibility. Politics is still in the realm of possibility. Patient mensa Kaczynski like killer is still in the realm of possibility. Sick suburban 16 year old Columbine-type kid still in the realm of possibility. Speculate away.

(03-13-2018 12:01 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  I don't disavow anyone with a theory. All we have at the moment is speculation. Hate crimes are sill in the realm of possibility. Politics is still in the realm of possibility. Patient mensa Kaczynski like killer is still in the realm of possibility. Sick suburban 16 year old Columbine-type kid still in the realm of possibility. Speculate away.

Exactly. You're free to speculate, but FBO spread fake news when he said that it was being investigated as possible hate crimes. All the police said was that nothing could be ruled out at the moment.

2 more explosions reported tonight in Austin.