FBI identifies California fertility clinic bomber

Authorities have named the man behind Saturday’s deadly car bombing outside a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, as Guy Edward Bartkus, a 25-year-old from Twentynine Palms.

The FBI confirmed on Sunday that Bartkus, who died in the blast, was the sole fatality and is believed to have acted alone.

Read more: One dead in suspected terror attack outside California fertility clinic

Officials said Bartkus had “nihilistic ideations” and attempted to livestream the bombing, which they are now investigating as an intentional act of terrorism. Investigators are still tracing his steps in the hours leading up to the explosion and have recovered a manifesto believed to be tied to him.

The attack occurred shortly before 11 AM on Saturday, just blocks from downtown Palm Springs. The explosion originated from a 2010 silver Ford Fusion parked outside the American Reproductive Centers (ARC), a prominent fertility clinic. Though the clinic's structure was damaged, no patients or staff were harmed.

Palm Springs police said the explosive was a large vehicle-borne improvised device. FBI Assistant Director Akil Davis described the aftermath as “the largest bombing scene” the bureau has encountered in Southern California in recent memory. The blast’s impact was felt over a mile away, and debris was scattered across a 100-foot radius.

Four people were injured but have since been treated and released. ARC confirmed that its medical laboratory, including stored embryos and eggs, was untouched. However, the clinic’s office space sustained damage.

“I really have no clue what happened,” said Dr. Maher Abdallah, who runs the clinic. “Thank God today happened to be a day that we have no patients.”

Bartkus lived in Twentynine Palms, a desert city home to a major Marine Corps base roughly an hour from the bombing site. The FBI has since searched his residence, evacuating neighbors during the operation. Authorities have assured the public there is no ongoing threat.

The ARC clinic, according to its website, is the Coachella Valley’s first full-service fertility and IVF center. It provides a range of reproductive services including IVF, egg donation and freezing, as well as support for same-sex couples and surrogacy.

Investigators are urging the public to come forward with any information that might help reconstruct Bartkus’s movements prior to the explosion. The FBI said their team would remain on-site for the next couple of days as evidence collection continues.