At least one person was killed in an explosion Saturday morning near a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, which authorities are calling a “intentional act of terrorism.”
Palm Springs city officials said in a Facebook post that the blast happened just before 11 a.m. local time on North Indian Canyon Drive, near East Tachevah Drive, which is home to several healthcare facilities, including American Reproductive Centers, a local IVF clinic.
The explosion injured four other people, none of whom are believed to be clinic staff, according to city officials.
Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills confirmed in a statement that one person was killed in a vehicle explosion that appeared to be “an intentional act of violence.” Mills said the person has not yet been identified.
He claimed that the blast field spanned several blocks and severely damaged some nearby buildings. The police chief also stated that the explosion occurred at 1199 N. Indian Canyon Dr., which is the address of American Reproductive Centers.
As the widespread investigation continues, some residents have been evacuated from their homes in Twentynine Palms, which is about an hour away in San Bernardino County, according to KESQ, a CBS News Palm Springs affiliate. Authorities stated that the evacuations were necessary to avoid a potential “blast zone,” but they did not confirm whether the incidents were related.
The FBI says they have identified a person of interest in the incident, but they do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public.
The clinic is just steps from the Desert Regional Medical Center, the area’s primary hospital, and blocks from Palm Springs’ bustling downtown business district, where restaurants and bars are frequently crowded on weekends. Nearby is the city’s historic Movie Colony neighborhood, which once housed Frank Sinatra and Cary Grant.
“Terrorism came knocking on the door of Palm Springs,” Mills said during a press conference. “We survived. And I can assure you that this city will rise and become a more effective beacon of hope than before.
According to Palm Springs Fire Chief Paul Alvarado, firefighters arrived at the scene in less than a minute. He stated that they were able to extinguish the majority of the fire before leaving the building due to the partially collapsed roof.
In separate emails to CBS News, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives stated that they will send agents to assist with the investigation.
“Make no mistake, this is an intentional act of terrorism,” said Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles division, during a press conference.
He described the incident as “probably one of the largest bombing investigations we’ve had in Southern California.”
Due to the large debris field created by the explosion, which occurred within a 250-foot radius, officials asked residents to leave anything they thought to be debris alone and contact them for further investigation.
American Reproductive Centers’ Facebook page reported that a “vehicle exploded in the parking lot near our building.”
“I received a call stating that a massive explosion had destroyed a couple of our buildings. “My main concern was obviously my staff and the embryos we had in storage,” said Dr. Maher Abdallah. “Fortunately for us, our staff and the IVF lab were unharmed. “The embryos are safe.”
CBS News has learned that the Center for Reproductive Services and the American Coalition for Telemedicine were unaware of any threats to their facilities or the organizations with which they collaborate nationwide.
Some visitors to the area told CBS News that they could feel the shaking from the explosion at The Skylark Hotel, which is about 500 yards from the clinic. Other people in the area reported that the blast was so loud that they assumed an aircraft had crashed.
Evacuation warning issued in San Bernardino County
About 50 miles from the spot of the blast, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department deputies assisted the FBI in evacuating dozens of homes in the Twentynine Palms neighborhood.
People were urged to avoid several areas in the city, including:
- Highway 62 to the south
- Amboy Road to the north
- Bullion Avenue to the west
- Utah Trail to the east.
Authorities have not confirmed whether the evacuations are related to the explosion, but the FBI stated that “investigative activity” was ongoing in the area. Some footage showed BearCats rolling through city streets while SWAT teams knocked on doors.
According to CBS News affiliate KESQ, deputies explained that the evacuations were necessary to avoid a potential “blast zone.”
KESQ reports that around 8:30 p.m., authorities entered a home in the neighborhood. They say the scene will be active overnight.
Government leaders react
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated on social media that she had been “briefed on the explosion at a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, which occurred today.” Federal agents are currently on the ground, working alongside local law enforcement.
She added, “We are working to learn more, but let me be clear: the Trump administration recognizes that women and mothers are America’s heartbeat. Violence against a fertility clinic is unacceptable.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office released a statement stating that he had been “briefed on the explosion at a health facility in Palm Springs.”
“I’ve been briefed on the explosion near a fertility clinic in Palm Springs,” Newsom said in a tweet. “Jen and I are thinking of everyone who has been affected. The state is cooperating closely with local and federal authorities as the investigation progresses. Please avoid this area.”