'Unabomber' dies in prison at 81 years old
2 Min Read
Kaczynski died today at the federal prison medical center in Butner, North Carolina.
-
Convicted “Unabomber” Theodore Kaczynski is escorted by U.S. Marshals outside the Sacramento County Federal Court in Sacramento, Calif., on May 4, 1998 (AFP)
The Federal Bureau of Prisons said on Saturday that Ted Kaczynski, also known as the "Unabomber," died in prison at the age of 81 years old.
Kaczynski died at the federal prison medical center in Butner, North Carolina, today, authorities said.
He is remembered for waging a bombing campaign from 1978 to 1995, killing three people and injuring dozens.
Throughout his campaign, Kaczynski's targets included civilians at random and academics.
The nickname "Unabomber" -- a shorter abbreviation of "University and Airline Bomber" -- was earned due to his targeting of university professors and airline companies.
Read more: Two killed, another injured in Kansas City shooting: Media
Kaczynski, who is also frequently referred to as an ecofascist, strived to annihilate the advancement of modern technology and society, arguing that both are contributing to the destruction of the environment.
Operating from a shack in the Montana woods, the Unabomber made bombs by hand or had them delivered over nearly two decades.
It was only after Kaczynski's capture by the FBI that elements of previous life surfaced. Entering University at the young age of 16, Kaczynski once scored 167 on an IQ test.
In September 1995, Kaczynski threatened to bomb The Washington Post if they refused to publish a 35,000-word anti-modernity manifesto.
In 1995, Kaczynski mailed a letter to The New York Times vowing to "desist from terrorism" if the Times or The Washington Post published his manifesto.
Kaczynski's brother, David, later recognized the writing style and informed the FBI of his suspicions that Ted Kaczynski might be behind the terror attacks.
In 1996, Kaczynski was arrested and convicted to life in prison in 1998. His lawyers attempted to file a plea of insanity, which Kaczynski dismissed. Instead, he pleaded guilty in court to all his charges, helping him avoid capital punishment.
