A photo released by the FBI of Anthony Quinn Warner, who blew himself up in his recreational vehicle in Nashville, Tennessee, on Christmas Day. Courtesy of FBI via AP
A photo released by the FBI of Anthony Quinn Warner, who blew himself up in his recreational vehicle in Nashville, Tennessee, on Christmas Day. Courtesy of FBI via AP
A photo released by the FBI of Anthony Quinn Warner, who blew himself up in his recreational vehicle in Nashville, Tennessee, on Christmas Day. Courtesy of FBI via AP
A photo released by the FBI of Anthony Quinn Warner, who blew himself up in his recreational vehicle in Nashville, Tennessee, on Christmas Day. Courtesy of FBI via AP

Nashville blast suspect Anthony Quinn Warner died in explosion


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The 63-year-old suspect in the bombing that rocked Nashville on Christmas morning was killed in the blast.

The explosion destroyed Anthony Quinn Warner's motor home and damaged more than 40 businesses.

FBI forensic experts matched DNA samples recovered from the scene to that of Warner, whose home in nearby Antioch was searched on Saturday by federal agents.

"We've come to the conclusion that an individual named Anthony Warner is the bomber and he was present when the bomb went off and that he perished in the bombing," said Donald Cochran, US Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.

Officials said it was too early in the investigation to discuss the suspect's motives.

Warner's motor home, parked on a downtown street of Tennessee's largest city, exploded at dawn on Friday moments after police responding to reports of gunfire noticed it. They heard music and a recorded message coming from the vehicle warning of a bomb.

The explosion in the heart of America's country music capital injured three people. It damaged an AT&T switching centre, disrupting mobile, internet and TV services across central Tennessee and parts of four other states.

As investigators followed up on hundreds of tips from the public, they searched Warner's home on Saturday and visited a Nashville real estate agency where he had worked on computers.

The owner of the agency, Steve Fridrich, told the Tennessean newspaper that for four or five years Warner had come into the office roughly once a month to provide computer consulting services. This month Warner told the company in an email that he would no longer be working for them, without giving a reason, Mr Fridrich said.

"He seemed very personable to us – this is quite out of character I think," Mr Fridrich told the newspaper.

Nashville Mayor John Cooper said on the CBS News Face the Nation programme on Sunday that local officials felt there had to be some connection between the bombing and the AT&T building.

Damage to the switching centre was so extensive that AT&T teams had to drill access holes into the wreckage to connect generators to critical equipment, as well as pump one metre of water from the basement.

  • A recreational vehicle that was involved in a blast is seen on Friday, December 25, 2020, in Nashville. Metro Nashville PD via AP
    A recreational vehicle that was involved in a blast is seen on Friday, December 25, 2020, in Nashville. Metro Nashville PD via AP
  • Investigators work at the scene of an explosion in Nashville, Tenn. The explosion that shook the largely deserted streets of downtown Nashville early Christmas morning shattered windows, damaged buildings and wounded three people. Authorities said they believed the blast was intentional. AP
    Investigators work at the scene of an explosion in Nashville, Tenn. The explosion that shook the largely deserted streets of downtown Nashville early Christmas morning shattered windows, damaged buildings and wounded three people. Authorities said they believed the blast was intentional. AP
  • Investigators walk near the scene of an explosion in Nashville, Tenn. The explosion that shook the largely deserted streets of downtown Nashville early Christmas morning shattered windows, damaged buildings and left several people wounded. Authorities said they believed the blast was intentional. AP
    Investigators walk near the scene of an explosion in Nashville, Tenn. The explosion that shook the largely deserted streets of downtown Nashville early Christmas morning shattered windows, damaged buildings and left several people wounded. Authorities said they believed the blast was intentional. AP
  • Investigators work near the site of an explosion on 2nd Avenue that occurred the day before in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. REUTERS
    Investigators work near the site of an explosion on 2nd Avenue that occurred the day before in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. REUTERS
  • Investigators work near the site of an explosion on 2nd Avenue that occurred the day before in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. REUTERS
    Investigators work near the site of an explosion on 2nd Avenue that occurred the day before in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. REUTERS
  • A motorcycle is seen parked on closed Broadway street as investigators work near the site of an explosion from the day before in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. REUTERS
    A motorcycle is seen parked on closed Broadway street as investigators work near the site of an explosion from the day before in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. REUTERS
  • Investigators work near the site of an explosion on 2nd Avenue that occurred the day before in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. REUTERS
    Investigators work near the site of an explosion on 2nd Avenue that occurred the day before in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. REUTERS
  • The ATF truck passes the Ryman as investigators work near the site of an explosion from the day before in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. REUTERS
    The ATF truck passes the Ryman as investigators work near the site of an explosion from the day before in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. REUTERS
  • Investigators work near the site of an explosion from the day before in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. REUTERS
    Investigators work near the site of an explosion from the day before in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. REUTERS
  • Investigators work near the site of an explosion on 2nd Avenue that occurred the day before in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. REUTERS
    Investigators work near the site of an explosion on 2nd Avenue that occurred the day before in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. REUTERS
  • Investigators work near the site of an explosion from the day before in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. REUTERS
    Investigators work near the site of an explosion from the day before in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. REUTERS
  • Investigators work near the site of an explosion on 2nd Avenue that occurred the day before in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. REUTERS
    Investigators work near the site of an explosion on 2nd Avenue that occurred the day before in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. REUTERS
  • A vehicle is on fire after an explosion in the area of Second and Commerce in Nashville, Tennessee. Buildings shook in the immediate area and beyond after a loud boom was heard early Christmas morning. The Tennessean via AP
    A vehicle is on fire after an explosion in the area of Second and Commerce in Nashville, Tennessee. Buildings shook in the immediate area and beyond after a loud boom was heard early Christmas morning. The Tennessean via AP
  • Debris litters the road near the site of an explosion in the area of Second and Commerce in Nashville. Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Reuters
    Debris litters the road near the site of an explosion in the area of Second and Commerce in Nashville. Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Reuters
  • A law enforcement member walks past damage from an explosion in downtown Nashville. AP Photo
    A law enforcement member walks past damage from an explosion in downtown Nashville. AP Photo
  • Smoke billows from the site of an explosion in Nashville. Reuters
    Smoke billows from the site of an explosion in Nashville. Reuters
  • Damage is seen on a street after an explosion in Nashville. Nashville Fire Department via AFP
    Damage is seen on a street after an explosion in Nashville. Nashville Fire Department via AFP
  • Police close off an area damaged by an explosion in Nashville. AFP
    Police close off an area damaged by an explosion in Nashville. AFP
  • Police close off an area damaged by an explosion in Nashville. AFP
    Police close off an area damaged by an explosion in Nashville. AFP
  • Police close off an area damaged by an explosion in Nashville. AFP
    Police close off an area damaged by an explosion in Nashville. AFP
  • Nashville Police Chief John Drake, center, speaks during a news conference. AP Photo
    Nashville Police Chief John Drake, center, speaks during a news conference. AP Photo