Several weeks after the Austin bomber was killed, Homeland Security officials along with Austin Police Chief Brian Manley and Rep. Michael McCaul R-Texas, gathered Wednesday morning in Washington, D.C. to discuss improvements in bomb-related investigations since the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.
During the meeting, officials discussed how investigators have improved their bomb-related incidents since the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 and how it helped law enforcement deal with the recent serial bomber in Austin.
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Texas Rep. McCaul gave an opening statement during the meeting and recalled how opportunities for additional steps could have been taken during the Boston Marathon to improve the investigation. Since then, investigators have made a variety of improvements that helped deal with the recent bombings in Austin.
"These changes were necessary. They made a real impact over time and have remained at the heart of this committee's initiatives. And after five years, our counter-terrorism partnerships are improved and the coordination between federal and state-local law enforcement I believe is stronger," McCaul said.
McCaul used the recent bombings in Austin as an example of how these investigations have improved and gave credit to Chief Manley.
"Chief Manley, I was very impressed by the way you led our hometown through such a difficult time. You were determined in bringing the bomber to his final justice. And on behalf of the Austin community and as a resident of Austin, Texas, we are grateful you brought this nightmare to an end."
Chief Manley also spoke, giving an overview of the Austin bombings and describing how the assistance from law enforcement agencies were crucial to closing the investigation as quickly as possible.
"I can't say enough about the collaboration that took place between federal, state and local officials as we worked to bring this to a conclusion," Manley said.
