Austin Bomber's Final Plan Involved McDonald's

If police moved in, Mark Conditt would detonate suicide bomb in crowded restaurant
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 23, 2018 6:24 AM CDT
Austin Bomber: 'Wish I Were Sorry, But I'm Not'
This undated student ID photo released by Austin Community College shows Mark Anthony Conditt.   (Austin Community College via AP)

Police have not released a 28-minute cellphone recording left by the Austin bomber before his death, but the Austin American-Statesman reports that Mark Conditt offers no motive or remorse for killing two and injuring five. Sources tell the newspaper that the 23-year-old describes himself as a "psychopath" in the recording and acknowledges that his actions took loved ones from their families. "I wish I were sorry, but I'm not," he says. Conditt also says he made a big mistake in using a FedEx Office, where surveillance video allowed police to get his license plate. And he threatened a chilling finale if police closed in: He would go into a crowded McDonald's and detonate a suicide bomb.

Rep. Michael McCaul, who represents the area in Congress, tells CNN that Conditt spoke of employment troubles and other "aggravating factors." One more disturbing detail: McCaul says Conditt had purchased "Slow Down Children at Play" signs, which McCaul thinks means he planned to leave more tripwire bombs in residential areas. Meanwhile, the lack of a motive is playing a role in why authorities generally are not calling him a "terrorist," reports NBC News. By federal definition, a terrorist has a political motive, and Conditt appears to have lacked one. Critics, however, see a double standard at play because Conditt is white. Consider this tweet from Pakistani-born actor and comedian Kumail Nanjiani: "If this terrorist bomber was a brown guy, my mom wouldn’t be able to leave her house for a week." (Conditt's pink gloves also played a role in his capture.)

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