Residents are being evacuated from a city near Palm Springs to avoid what police are calling a potential “blast zone,” according to officials and local media outlets.
“The law enforcement activity occurring in Twentynine Palms is an FBI investigation,” the San Bernardino County Sheriff Department told KTLA. “Residents have been encouraged to evacuate the investigation area, however, some have chosen to shelter in place.”
A local Palm Springs news station, KESQ, had a crew at the scene who reported that authorities could not readily comment on the investigation when asked if it was connected to the bomb explosion from Saturday morning.
The Morongo Basin Sheriff Station posted to X late Saturday afternoon, telling the public to avoid the following areas in Twentynine Palms.
- Highway 62 to the south
- Amboy Road to the north
- Bullion Avenue to the west
- Utah Trail to the east
In addition, the station said to avoid the area of Adobe Avenue at Two Mile Road and at White Sands Drive.
The car explosion that the FBI is calling “an intentional act of terrorism” in Palm Springs left one person dead, others injured and caused extensive damage to a nearby reproductive health facility around 11 a.m. Saturday.
“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.”
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,” Davis said at a 5 p.m. press conference.
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.
The facility that seemed to be the target of this alleged attack is the American Reproductive Centers (ARC), a fertility clinic and in vitro fertilization (IVF) lab.
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.
The FBI said bomb technicians and terrorism investigators are on the scene, and will remain there for a “significant amount of time.”
The post Evacuations issued for potential ‘blast zone’ near Palm Springs: report appeared first on KTLA.
