The suspected Austin serial bomber has died after detonating a bomb in his vehicle while attempting to flee from police, officials have said.

Austin Police Department officers and federal agents had surrounded a hotel in Round Rock, on the main IH-35 road north of central Austin, when the suspect tried to escape, chief Brian Manley said.

When approached by Swat officers the 24-year-old white male detonated an explosive device, killing himself and knocking back one officer who suffered minor injuries, he said. A second officer fired toward the car.

But Mr Manley declined to identify the suspect and was unable to say whether he had been acting alone in the bombing spree that has terrorised the city since 2 March.

He urged members of the public to remain vigilant as FBI and ATF officials warned there may still be more bombs that have not yet been found.

“I don’t know what his background is,” Mr Manley said of the suspected bomber. “Hopefully as we continue this investigation we will uncover some facts.”

“We do not understand what motive” the 24-year-old had, he said, and “we don’t know if he was on his way to deliver another bomb” when police caught up to him. He said he believed the man was responsible for “all incidents” in Austin since 2 March.

Both local and federal officials will launch investigations into the circumstances surrounding the suspected bomber’s death.

Austin bombings suspect dead Show all 23 1 /23 Austin bombings suspect dead Austin bombings suspect dead March 21 Austin bombings suspect named as 24-year-old Mark Anthony Conditt by Texas police. Facebook Austin bombings suspect dead March 21 The bomber's car at the scene surrounded by law enforcement vehicles after he detonated a device following them closing in on him. kvue Austin bombings suspect dead March 21 Officials investigate the scene. AP Austin bombings suspect dead March 21 Law enforcement officials search for evidence at the location where the suspected package bomber was killed in suburban Austin. Getty Austin bombings suspect dead March 21 The Austin bomber's car after he detonated the device. kvue Austin bombings suspect dead March 21 Agent in Charge Fred Milanowski, Interim Austin Police Chief Brian Manley and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs speak to the media as law enforcement investigates the scene. EPA Austin bombings suspect dead March 21 The scene after the Austin bomber detonated a device in his car. kvue Austin bombings suspect dead March 21 Emergency responders investigate the scene. EPA Austin bombings suspect dead March 21 Police vehicles are seen just south of the Woodspring Suite and Red Roof Inn along the interstate as police investigate. The bombing suspect was identified by police and according to media reports he allegedly blew himself up after being confronted by police after being sought in connection with more than five bombings across the Austin, Texas area. EPA Austin bombings suspect dead March 21 Officials work at the scene early on Wednesday. AP Austin bombings suspect dead March 21 Austin Police and ATF section off parts of Slaughter Lane. Rex Austin bombings suspect dead March 21 Grocery carts block a vacated Randall's along Slaughter and Brodie Lanes near the scene of the explosion. Rex Austin bombings suspect dead March 21 Officials work at the scene. AP Austin bombings suspect dead March 20 Law enforcement personnel are seen gathering evidence outside a FedEx Store which was closed for investigation after a fifth bombing in Austin. There has been five bombings in the month of March in neighborhoods across Austin and police think they are all related. Reuters Austin bombings suspect dead March 20 Caity Colvard gets emotional as she watches a massive response of law enforcement officers at a bomb explosion site at a Goodwill store in Austin. Emergency teams were responding to another reported explosion in Texas' capital, this one at a Goodwill store in the southern part of the city. AP Austin bombings suspect dead March 20 FBI agents carrying items out in paper bags and boxes as they exit the FedEx store. EPA Austin bombings suspect dead March 20 Damage from a bomb blast that killed a man earlier in the month is pictured at the front porch of a home on Haverford Drive in Austin. Reuters Austin bombings suspect dead March 19 FBI and police investigate a bombing at the intersection of Republic of Texas and Mission Oaks boulevards. Rex Austin bombings suspect dead March 19 Investigators work at the scene of a bombing on Dawn Song Drive in the Travis Country neighborhood. Rex Austin bombings suspect dead March 19 A police crime scene van arrives near the site of the explosion. Police warned nearby residents to remain indoors overnight as investigators looked for possible links to other deadly package bombings elsewhere in the city this month. AP Austin bombings suspect dead March 19 Police tape marks off the neighborhood where the package bomb went off. It is the fourth similar bombing in three weeks in the Austin area. Getty Austin bombings suspect dead March 19 Austin police chief Brian Manley talks with FBI Special Agent after explosion on Sunday. AP Austin bombings suspect dead March 18 Police maintain a cordon near the site of the explosion in southwest Austin. Reuters

Mr Manley said that Austin police and federal agents had run down a number of leads in the past week and, in the last 24 or 36 hours, identified a person of interest in the spree. “This person of interest ultimately moved to being a suspect.”

Following a press conference outside the hotel on Wednesday morning, he tweeted: “I can’t thank the men and women of #AustinPD or our Federal partners enough for their tireless work in restoring peace to our community.”

A special agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told reporters that ”we are concerned there may still be other devices out there”. He urged residents to report suspicious bags or packages.