By Alexandra Koch. Media: Fox News
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) bomb technicians are investigating an apparent car bombing near a Palm Springs, California, fertility clinic on Saturday, which left one person dead and at least four people injured.
The blast, which FBI Los Angeles assistant director Akil Davis called an “intentional act of terrorism,” happened just before 11 a.m. local time near an American Reproductive Centers facility.
Acknowledging the attack was “targeted,” officials said they are still investigating if the isolated incident was an act of international or domestic terrorism.
However, they did note it is “probably one of the largest bombing investigations that we’ve had in Southern California … on the scale of the Aliso Viejo bombing in Orange County,” which killed one person and injured two others in 2018.
Davis did not immediately identify the person who died in the explosion or confirm if it was the person of interest, but noted authorities are “not actively out searching for a suspect.”
Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Miles said debris extended across multiple blocks, describing it as a “massive” crime scene.
Jason Pack, a retired FBI agent and hostage negotiator, told Fox News Digital it could take days for authorities to search for evidence of explosives through several blocks of rubble.
To determine the type and quantity of devices used, investigators will need to examine blast radius and structural impact to assess the power and direction of the explosion, and search for chemical residues of known explosive materials — such as ammonium nitrate, TATP, RDX, or PETN, according to Pack.
Key finds will also include fragments, shrapnel and device components, to help reconstruct the method of detonation.
“Whether this was a single large device or multiple smaller ones, those answers will come from detailed lab testing and scene reconstruction—not just visual assessment,” Pack said.
Posts on social media showed nearby businesses with glass and debris blown out of windows.
“Terrorism came knocking on the door of Palm Springs,” Miles said during a news conference Saturday night. “We survived, and I can tell you that this city will rise and be more and be more effective as a beacon of hope than before.”
The American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic said no staff members were harmed, and while the building was damaged, the IVF lab—including eggs, embryos and reproductive materials—were spared.
“This morning, an unexpected and tragic incident occurred outside our Palm Springs facility when a vehicle exploded in the parking lot near our building,” the company wrote in a Facebook post. “In the face of this tragedy, we remain committed to creating hope—because we believe that healing begins with community, compassion and care. … This moment has shaken us—but it has not stopped us. We will continue to serve with strength, love and the hope that brings new life into the world.”
The Palm Springs Police Department’s active call log listed multiple responses for medical service on the 1100 block of N Palm Canyon Drive, beginning just before 11 a.m. local time.
There were also various calls for burglaries in the area, according to police records.
In a statement on X, Attorney General Pam Bondi called the attack “unforgiveable.”
“We are working to learn more, but let me be clear: the Trump administration understands that women and mothers are the heartbeat of America,” Bondi wrote in the post. “Violence against a fertility clinic is unforgivable.”
In separate posts to X, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli and Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed their condolences and support for federal investigators working on the case.
The Palm Springs Fire Department, California Highway Patrol and Desert Regional Medical Center did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office told Fox News Digital it is not responding to the incident.
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