One dead in suspected terror attack outside California fertility clinic

An explosion near a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, left one person dead and four others injured in what the FBI has described as a deliberate act of terrorism.

The blast occurred just before 11 AM local time in a commercial area less than a mile from downtown Palm Springs. The explosion rocked the parking lot near the American Reproductive Centers (ARC), a local fertility clinic that confirmed none of its staff or patients were harmed.

Read more: FBI identifies California fertility clinic bomber

Authorities have not identified the deceased victim and say no one is currently unaccounted for. The FBI confirmed it has identified a person of interest, but said officers are “not actively searching” for a suspect at this time.

Witnesses described a powerful explosion that shook the surrounding area.

At a news conference Saturday, Akil Davis, the FBI’s Los Angeles field office chief, confirmed the agency is treating the explosion as an act of terrorism. “This was an intentional act of terrorism,” he said. “As our investigation will unfold, we will determine if it’s international terrorism or domestic terrorism.”

Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills said the blast caused widespread property damage, affecting several nearby buildings, some of which were severely compromised.

Palm Springs Mayor Ron De Harte stated the explosion appeared to originate "in or near the vehicle" parked near the clinic.

Despite the proximity of the blast, ARC said its medical infrastructure — including its laboratory and all stored eggs and embryos — remains intact. “We are heavily conducting a complete safety inspection and have confirmed that our operations and sensitive medical areas were not impacted by the blast,” the clinic noted in a statement.

However, Dr. Maher Abdallah, who heads the facility, told the Associated Press (AP) the clinic’s front office sustained damage. “I really have no clue what happened,” he said. “Thank God today happened to be a day that we have no patients.”

The ARC facility, according to its website, is the first full-service fertility center and IVF laboratory in California’s Coachella Valley. It provides a wide range of reproductive services, including IVF, egg freezing, and surrogacy support.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said the state is coordinating closely with federal and local authorities, and US Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed she had been briefed on the incident.

Authorities continue to investigate the motive and source of the explosion.