CALIFORNIA: A deadly explosion outside a reproductive health clinic in Palm Springs on Saturday left one person dead and at least four others injured in what the FBI is calling an “intentional act of terrorism.”
According to Akil Davis, assistant director of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, authorities have identified a person of interest in the case and are not currently seeking additional suspects. No further information about the individual or a possible motive was disclosed.
The blast occurred just before 11 a.m. near a vehicle parked outside the American Reproductive Centers (ARC) facility. The victim, Davis said, was close to the car when it was obliterated by the explosion. Palm Springs Mayor Ron deHarte confirmed that the device was either inside or adjacent to the vehicle at the time of detonation.
“This was a deliberate act of terror,” Davis emphasized, adding that the FBI is working to determine whether it was linked to domestic or international terrorism.
Video footage from the scene showed a large hole torn into the single-story clinic building and significant structural damage. Several neighboring buildings were also affected, some severely.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has been briefed on the situation, according to his office.
Despite the extensive damage, ARC announced that its facility would be fully operational by Monday. In a Facebook statement, the clinic confirmed that its laboratory, along with all eggs, embryos, and reproductive materials, remained intact and secure. No staff members were harmed.
Dr. Maher Abdallah, who oversees the clinic, reassured patients and the public: “This moment has shaken us – but it has not stopped us.”
ARC operates in multiple California cities and offers a range of services including in vitro fertilization, genetic testing, and egg donation.
