At least one person is dead after a car exploded near a reproductive facility in Palm Springs, California, on Saturday morning, according to local authorities.
An FBI statement described the attack as an “intentional act of terrorism”, adding that the clinic was deliberately targeted. But it declined to elaborate on how authorities had reached a conclusion on a motive.
While briefing reporters, Akil Davis, assistant director of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, would not say whether the person who died in the car explosion was a suspect in the blast. But Davis did say authorities had a person of interest in the case and were not actively searching for a suspect.
The person killed was near the vehicle that had been blown to pieces outside the clinic, operated by American Reproductive Centers (ARC), Davis said.
The bomb, which detonated before 11am, was either in or near a car parked outside the clinic when it exploded, said Mayor Ron deHarte of Palm Springs.
“Make no mistake, this is an intentional act of terrorism,” Davis said. He did not comment on the relationship – if any – between the victim and the person of interest in the investigation.
Aerial images of the damage to the facility showed the burned-out remains of a vehicle in a parking lot behind the clinic.
Despite damage to the building, ARC said the facility would be fully operational on Monday.
The Desert Sun reported that the explosion could be felt as far as 2 miles (3km) away after it occurred by the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic.
Bill Essayli, US attorney for the central district of California, weighed in on the explosion, saying on X: “We are aware of the explosion that occurred this morning in Palm Springs. FBI is on scene and will be investigating whether this was an intentional act. We will release as much information as possible once we are able to confirm details.”
Dr Maher Abdallah, who runs the ARC facility, told the Associated Press in a phone interview that all of his staff were safe and accounted for.
The explosion damaged the practice’s office space, where it conducts consultations with patients. The blast did not harm the in vitro fertilization (IVF) lab and all of the stored embryos.
“I really have no clue what happened,” Abdallah said. “Thank God today happened to be a day that we have no patients.”
In a separate statement on Facebook, the ARC said: “We are heartbroken to learn that this event claimed a life and caused injuries, and our deepest condolences go out to the individuals and families affected … ARC will be fully operational on Monday morning, and our team is here to answer any concerns you may have. We appreciate the incredible support from our patients and local community, as well as the swift action of Palm Springs Police, Fire, and emergency responders.”
Video posted on X by one witness, the former Fox News correspondent Rick Leventhal, showed extensive damage outside the facility.
Nima Tabrizi, 37, of Santa Monica, said he had been inside a cannabis dispensary nearby when he felt a massive explosion.
“The building just shook, and we go outside and there’s massive cloud smoke,” Tabrizi said. “Crazy explosion. It felt like a bomb went off … We went up to the scene, and we saw human remains.”
California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, has also been briefed on the explosion, writing on X: “Jen [his wife] and I are keeping everyone affected in our hearts. The state is working closely with local and federal authorities as the investigation unfolds. Please avoid the area.”
Palm Springs is a tiny community in the desert about a two-hour drive east of Los Angeles, known for upmarket resorts and a history of celebrity residents.
The Associated Press contributed reporting
