Fatal Blast Outside Fertility Clinic Was 'Act Of Terrorism': FBI

PALM SPRINGS, CA — An explosion that heavily damaged a fertility clinic — as well as several other buildings in Palm Springs Saturday — was "an intentional act of terrorism," FBI official said Saturday evening. One person was killed in the blast and at least five have been injured, according to reports.

The identity of the person killed in the blast is not yet known, said Andy Mills, police chief with the Palms Springs Police Department, in a statement Saturday afternoon. Akil Davis, assistant director in charge with the FBI Los Angeles, said the person killed was near the vehicle, which exploded.

In addition, four people were injured, he said during a press conference Saturday. Davis said the blast was one of the largest bombings in southern California history.

• Bomb Obliterates CA Clinic, Triggering Terrorism Probe: Report

Emergency personnel and police first responded to the blast at just before 11 a.m. Saturday on North Indian Canyon Drive near East Tachevah Drive, according to city of Palm Springs officials. The explosion occurred in a parking lot near the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic at 1199 North Indian Canyon Drive in Palm Springs.

"This explosion was significant covering several blocks north south and east and west from the 1300 block of Indian Canyon," Davis said. "The FBI evidence response team is on the scene right now processing evidence and will be here for a signification amount of time."

Davis said authorities believe the clinic was targeted.

Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned the "unforgivable" violence against the fertility clinic.

"Federal agents are on the ground now responding alongside local law enforcement," Bondi said in a statement on X. "We are working to learn more, but let me be clear: the Trump administration understands that women and mothers are the heartbeat of America. Violence against a fertility clinic is unforgivable."

The clinic was not open at the time of the blast. Dr. Maher Abdallah, who runs the clinic, said no one from his staff was injured and although the building sustained damage, said the lab — where eggs, embryos and reproductive materials are stored — was not damaged.

"We are immensely grateful to share that no members of the ARC team were harmed, and our lab—including all eggs, embryos, and reproductive materials—remains fully secure and undamaged. We are heavily conducting a complete safety inspection and have confirmed that our operations and sensitive medical areas were not impacted by the blast," Abdallah said in a Facebook post Saturday.

Along with local police and fire departments at the scene Saturday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Los Angeles is also responding to the site of the explosion, according to a post from the FBI posted to X Saturday afternoon.

"FBI assets being deployed include investigators, bomb technicians and an evidence response team," according to the FBI. FBI Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis and Mills will hold a press conference at 5 p.m. at the corner of Camino Monte Vista and N. Indian Wells Drive in Palm Springs.

Meanwhile, a law enforcement official, who requested to remain anonymous, said investigators believe the person who caused the car explosion is also the person who died in the incident, according to the Associated Press. The anonymous source also stressed to the AP reporter that the investigation is still in its early stages.

Police have not shared a motive. Mills said the incident appears to be isolated and police are working Saturday afternoon to make "the scene safe for our community."

He asked residents who may find potential evidence to leave "leave it in place" and call the police department's non-emergency number at (760) 327-1441. Agents or officers will collect the evidence, he said.

Video from the scene of the blast Saturday morning showed damage to buildings and smoke in the area of the reported explosion. Residents also reported online feeling the shaking from the blast throughout the city, and officials closed down North Palm Canyon Drive at Vista Chino following the explosion.

Scott Pastorius, a construction project manager from Los Angeles, was in his vacation home four blocks away from the explosion site when he heard a loud boom, he said in an interview with The New York Times.

According to Pastorius, a liquor store and a pancake house near the explosion site had windows blown out. A nearby hotel also had doors blown off and its portico was damaged, he told the Times.
“That was a very intense explosion,” Pastorius said.

The clinic is located near Desert Regional Medical Center, which did not sustain any serious damage.

"On Saturday morning, an explosion occurred at an unaffiliated office building across the street from Desert Regional Medical Center," according to a hospital statement. "Hospital staff is cooperating with police as they investigate the cause."

While the hospital's emergency department remains open, officials asked visitors to avoid the hospital if possible.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's office issued a statement saying Newsom "has been briefed on the explosion."

"The state, through the Office of Emergency Services, is coordinating with local and federal authorities to support the response," according to Newsom's office.

This is a developing story. Check back for details.