Austin Bomber Motive: Mark Conditt Made 'Confession' in Cellphone Recording

Mark Conditt, the Austin bomber who blew himself up in a final stand-off with police, left a detailed recording on his cell phone in which the 23-year-old described the specification of each explosive device and gave clues to a motive for his deadly attacks.

Austin Police Chief Brian Manley told a news conference that the cell phone was found on Conditt's body in the vehicle where he detonated his final bomb, killing himself, as he was surrounded by a SWAT team just off a highway in Round Rock, north of Austin, on March 21.

On that cell phone police discovered a 25-minute recording by Conditt, who lived a few miles up the road in Pflugerville, Texas. Manley described that recording as "a confession." Conditt's bombing campaign in Austin during March killed two people and injured several others.

Mark Anthony Conditt
Mark Anthony Conditt, the Austin bomber, in a picture uploaded to Facebook by his mother back in 2013. Danene Conditt/Facebook

"On this recording, the suspect describes the six bombs that he constructed with a level of specificity that he identified the differences among those six bombs," Manley told reporters on Wednesday evening.

"We've told you all along that they all had similarities, which they did as far as specific components, but there were also differences between them, and on this recording he identified what those differences were."

Manley also addressed Conditt's motive, pieced together from clues left on the recording, though he cautioned that "we are never going to put a [rationale] behind these acts."

"But what I can tell you having listened to that recording, he does not at all mention anything about terrorism, nor does he mention anything about hate," Manley said. "But instead, it is the outcry of a very challenged young man, talking about challenges in his personal life that led him to this point."

Manley gave no detail about those personal challenges.

Austin Police Chief Brian Manley: “We have, at this point, located a recording that the suspect in this incident made. It is about a 25 minute recording where he talks about what he has done. I would classify this as a confession.” #TheStory pic.twitter.com/0LyWrWbfOW

— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 21, 2018

"Based on what we heard on the recording, he described the six devices, and we have recovered those six devices," Manley said.

"We also recovered the seventh device, that being the one he had on him early this morning as our officers approached, causing the explosion and the ultimate officer-involved shooting that took place.

"We still want our community to remain vigilant as we always should given the day and time we live now. But I also want to let the community know that he described seven explosive devices and...we have accounted for the devices that we have known about."

Austin Police Chief Brian Manley: “Having listened to that recording, he does not at all mention anything about terrorism, nor does he mention anything about hate. But instead, it is the outcry of a very challenged young man talking about challenges in his personal life...” pic.twitter.com/ruMcVSk14m

— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 21, 2018

Police identified Conditt as the suspect in the final hours before he died. CCTV images of Conditt wearing what appears to be a blond wig show him mailing parcels at a FedEx distribution facility in Austin.

Conditt's vehicle was soon located by police at a hotel in Round Rock. He was watched until he left, when police followed him. After he pulled over on the side of Interstate 35, a SWAT team moved in and he detonated his seventh device while still in the car. Officers opened fire but Conditt was already dead from his injuries.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


Shane Croucher is a Senior Editor based in London, UK. He oversees the My Turn team. He has previously overseen ... Read more

To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.

Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek magazine delivered to your door
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go
Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go