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A violent explosion that tore through a fertility clinic in Palm Springs on Saturday is being investigated as an act of domestic terrorism, authorities said, after the suspect — who died in the blast — left behind extremist writings condemning human reproduction.
The FBI confirmed Sunday evening that the incident at the American Reproductive Centers clinic was not accidental.
“Make no mistake: This is an intentional act of terrorism,” said Akil Davis, head of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, during a news conference.
The suspect, whose identity has not been released, was killed in the explosion, believed to have originated from a vehicle parked behind the clinic. Law enforcement officials say the individual attempted to livestream or record the attack and left behind online writings expressing anti-natalist ideology — a belief that humans should not reproduce.
A law enforcement source told the Associated Press that the writings reflected a deep-seated opposition to fertility treatment and belief that “the world should not be populated.”
Though the motive is still under investigation, the targeted nature of the attack and the suspect’s own writings led federal authorities to classify it as terrorism. Officials say no additional suspects are being sought.
The explosion occurred at the clinic’s main office on a quiet Saturday, when no patients were scheduled. Dr. Maher Abdallah, who heads the practice, told the AP that staff were safe and that embryos and IVF lab materials stored offsite were unharmed.
“Thank God today happened to be a day that we have no patients,” Abdallah said.
The blast caused significant damage, caving in the clinic’s roof and scattering debris across a five-lane street. The explosion shattered windows blocks away and left only a single burned-out vehicle in the parking lot — believed to be the source of the detonation.
Four people were reported injured, though their conditions have not yet been released.
Palm Springs Mayor Pro Tem Naomi Soto called the clinic “a place of hope” and condemned the attack.
“This is a building that people go to to start or expand their families. We acknowledge the pain and concern across the community,” she said.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic and terrifying. Nearby hotel worker Rhino Williams, 47, said he sprinted to the blast site after hearing a deafening boom and saw a car’s front axle on fire and debris scattered across the road.
“The building had blown out into the street… It was just rubble and smoke,” Williams said.
Another witness, Steven Michael Chacon, was preparing to turn into a hospital across the street when the explosion rocked the area. He described fleeing on foot after seeing glass flying and what appeared to be a body part near the wreckage.
“People were screaming. There were people bloody. Glass was everywhere,” Chacon said.
Palm Springs, a city known for its desert resorts and celebrity history, was rattled by the rare act of large-scale violence.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, speaking on behalf of the Trump administration, condemned the violence.
“Violence against a fertility clinic is unforgivable. The Trump administration understands that women and mothers are the heartbeat of America.”
Federal and local authorities continue to investigate the origins of the bomb and the suspect’s background. Officials have not ruled out further implications of the suspect’s ideology or links to broader extremist networks.
