A series of bombings in the Austin area over the past week has left two people dead and four injured. Some high-profile Twitter users have claimed that there’s been no news coverage of the bombings, focusing their ire on “mainstream” or national outlets in some cases.
Messages that criticize a supposed lack of media coverage have been posted on social media as recently as Monday. In some cases, the critics have thousands of followers; Shaun King, a columnist for the Intercept and prominent activist on social media, has almost a million Twitter followers.
Local Austin news organizations, including the American-Statesman, reported about the first explosion, which killed Anthony Stephan House, the morning it happened on March 2. At the time, officials believed the blast was an isolated incident.
Here’s a timeline of key Statesman stories covering the bombings since March 2:
- March 2: Man injured in explosion in Northeast Austin has died, police say
- March 12: Deadly Austin bombings likely related, police say, urging caution with packages
- March 12: Stepfather of man who died in package explosion knew grandfather of another bombing victim, report says
- March 13: Bomb victim Draylen Mason, 17, remembered as bright, talented musician
- March 14: Police question Austin woman they think may have been bombing target
- March 16: More than 600 suspicious packages reported since Monday, Austin police say
- March 18: Officials increase reward to $115,000 for info on bombings
- March 18: Fourth explosion this month injures two; this time in Southwest Austin
- March 19: Police hope home security video yields clues in bombing, chief says
National news outlets started taking notice March 12, when two more explosions occurred in Austin, killing Draylen Mason and injuring two others. That afternoon, police said the cases were linked and urged residents to provide information. At that point, the three explosions had all occurred east of Interstate 35. Outlets like the New York Times, CNN, USA Today, the Washington Post and more have picked up the story.
The police response to the bombings has been scrutinized in both local and national articles. The Washington Post also reported on the department's initial theory that the first blast was connected to a police raid earlier that week.
Police have not ruled out the possibility that the explosions have targeted people of color.
The Huffington Post published an opinion article on March 16 examining how race played a factor in the bombing explosion investigations.
On Sunday afternoon, law enforcement officials announced the reward for information leading to an arrest of anyone responsible for the bombings had increased to $115,000. Hours later, another explosion injured two men in Southwest Austin. Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said the victims are both "Anglo males" in their 20s. Authorities confirmed a trip wire was used in the fourth bomb attack.
Following the most recent explosion Sunday, a wide variety of media outlets — from TV stations to newspapers to online publications — have shared their coverage on social media.
The Statesman has created a complete coverage list to read, see and watch the latest stories, photo galleries and videos about the explosions in Austin.
You can also follow the American-Statesman on Twitter and Facebook for more updates.
