PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (TCN) — Authorities allege that a 25-year-old man from Twentynine Palms detonated a car bomb outside an IVF clinic and left behind “anti-pro-life” and “pro-mortalist” writings.
According to Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, on Saturday, May 17, at approximately 11 a.m., Palm Springs Police and fire personnel responded to a vehicle explosion near an IVF clinic on North Indian Canyon Drive. Davis called it an “intentional act of terrorism” and said it was one of the largest bombing scenes in Southern California’s history.
Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills said the blast radius extended for blocks and damaged several buildings. One person near the vehicle died and four people sustained injuries.
In an updated press conference, authorities identified the suspect as Guy Edward Bartkus and said he was the decedent near the vehicle. Davis noted that all embryos in the IVF fertility clinic were unaffected by the explosion, adding, “Good guys: one, bad guys: zero.”
According to KABC-TV, Bartkus left behind writings about his anti-natalist views before allegedly carrying out the vehicle bombing. Bartkus reportedly believed that people should not continue to have children. He allegedly attempted to livestream the attack and shared his “nihilistic ideations.”
The affected fertility clinic, American Reproductive Centers, posted a statement on social media, saying in part, “Out of every tragedy, there is an opportunity to come together with deeper purpose. While today’s events have shaken us all, they also shine a light on the strength of our community, the bravery of our first responders, and the resilience of the families we serve.”
Dr. Maher Abdallah, who leads the clinic, told The Associated Press, “Thank God today happened to be a day that we have no patients.”
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