An explosion outside a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, has left one person dead and four injured and caused significant damage to nearby buildings. The FBI stated that it is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism.
Mills said responding authorities have recorded one fatality, but the person’s identity is not yet known.
“Make no mistake, this was an intentional act of terrorism,” Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, said in a press conference on the afternoon of May 17.
In addition to the deceased individual, Davis confirmed that four other people were injured.
Davis said the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is leading the investigation. He said investigators have yet to determine who was responsible for the blast.
“Our investigation will unfold. We’re going to determine whether it was international terrorism or domestic terrorism,” he said.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Palm Springs Police Department, Palm Springs Fire Department, and Cathedral City Police Department all responded to the blast.
Dr. Maher Abdallah, director of the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic, confirmed that the facility was damaged in the blast. He said all of his staff members were safe and accounted for.
“I really have no clue what happened,” Abdallah said. “Thank God today happened to be a day that we have no patients.”
Nima Tabrizi, a resident of Santa Monica, said he was inside a cannabis dispensary nearby when he heard a large blast.
“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.”
Palm Springs, located about two hours east of Los Angeles, is known for its desert climate, luxury resorts, and long history as a getaway for Hollywood celebrities.
