A car explosion that the FBI is calling “an intentional act of terrorism” left one person dead, others injured and caused extensive damage to a nearby reproductive health facility in Palm Springs on Saturday.
The facility that may have been the target of this possible attack is the American Reproductive Centers (ARC), a fertility clinic and in vitro fertilization (IVF) lab.
Thankfully, ARC said in a statement that all eggs, embryos and other materials remained intact.
The clinic issued a statement on social media that called the incident “unexpected and tragic,” and, although the office portion of the center was damaged, ARC confirmed that no members of the team were harmed.
Doctor Maher Abdallah of ARC said the company’s mission is to help build families, including members of the LGBTQ community, which has since sparked questions about a possible motive behind this act.
KTLA’s Chris Wolfe spoke with a retired Marine Corps intelligence officer, now terrorism expert, Hal Kempfer, who said this investigation must consider every possible motive.
“There are violent extremists out there who have very strong views about IVF and surrogacy, which is something that they do at that clinic,” said Kempfer. “And that particular reproductive clinic is in the Palm Springs area, and Palm Springs is known as a center for LGBTQ residents.”
The car exploded around 11 a.m. Saturday, outside the fertility clinic at 1199 North Indian Canyon Drive.
“Make no mistake, this is an intentional act of terrorism,” said Akil Davis, assistant director for the Los Angeles FBI field office. “As the investigation unfolds, we will determine whether this was international or domestic terrorism.”
Davis said that this is one of the largest bombing investigations that they’ve had in Southern California. “It’s on scale of the Aliso Viejo bombing in Orange County,” Davis added, referring to a man’s intentional 2018 bombing at a spa that killed his ex-girlfriend and landed him life in prison.
As of Saturday evening, details remained limited regarding any motive or suspect description.
“We have a person of interest in this investigation, but we are not actively out searching for a suspect,” said Davis.
In addition, officials said the person who was killed was “near the car,” and that they are working to identify their remains.
“This explosion was significant, covering several blocks north, south, east and west,” said Davis. “Roads are closed as there is a wide debris field of over 250 yards.”
Witnesses reported seeing body parts and car parts scattered across the area.
Chief Andrew Mills of the Palm Springs Police Department emphasized the importance of attention to detail in this investigation, urging any nearby residents to provide any and all relevant information they have to law enforcement officials.
“If they find pieces of evidence in their yards, homes, side of their homes, please leave it there where it is, give us a call to a non-emergency number and we will do what we can to come get it as quickly as possible,” said Mills.
Davis said bomb technicians and terrorism investigators are on the scene, and will remain there for a “significant amount of time.”
In addition, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi weighed in, writing a social media post that said, “Federal agents are on the ground now responding alongside local law enforcement. 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 post FBI deems Palm Springs explosion a ‘terrorism’ act, experts explore possible motives appeared first on KTLA.
