Palm Springs Bombing
PALM SPRINGS (CNS) – FBI officials Sunday identified the suspect in the deadly bombing of a fertility clinic in Palm Springs as 25-year-old Twentynine Palms resident Guy Edward Bartkus, and authorities said they were examining an “anti pro-life manifesto” believed to be authored by Bartkus.
Bartkus was killed in the explosion, which occurred around 11 a.m. Saturday at the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic at 1199 N. Indian Canyon Drive. The clinic was closed at the time of the incident, but four others were injured at the scene. Those victims were released from medical care as of Sunday.
In a news briefing, Akil Davis, assistant director of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, said authorities served a search warrant Saturday in Twentynine Palms, where some neighbors were briefly evacuated.
Davis said Bartkus was driving a 2010 silver Ford Fusion sedan with California license number 8HWS848.
“That’s critical because we need the public’s help in identifying the gaps in our investigation,” Davis said. “We know where Mr. Bartkus was at about 6 a.m. We know the timeline of when he entered the city; however, we need the public’s help for identifying where he traversed within the city before the explosion.”
The clinic sustained damage in the blast, which Davis described Saturday as an “intentional act of terrorism” and “one of the largest bombing investigations we’ve had in Southern California,” with evidence strewn for hundreds of feet around the blast.
Davis went a step further saying: “The is probably the largest bombing scene that we’ve had in Southern California. This does eclipse the bombing matter in Aliso Viejo (at a day spa in 2018); it’s that big. For reference, to throw pieces of vehicle hundreds of feet in the air, and several blocks away, you can use your imagination how big that bomb device was.”
Authorities reiterated Sunday that all the embryos inside the building were safe.
Multiple media reports suggest that Bartkus was motivated by an intense opposition to in vitro fertilization.
“Officials are also aware of a rambling audio recording posted online in which a man describes his intention to attack an in vitro fertilization clinic, and they are working to determine whether it is associated with the incident,” CNN reported, citing an unnamed law enforcement source.
“In the oftentimes incoherent audio message, the speaker discusses various grievances about his life, but the specific connection to IVF is unclear,” according to CNN.
Other media reports said the speaker on the recording described himself as anti-life, or pro-mortalist.
Davis said that “the suspect had nihilistic ideations.”
“An anti pro-life manifesto believed to be authored by the suspect has been located and is being examined by the FBI. We are happy to report that no embryos at the IVF center were damaged by the explosion,” U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said.
“This case is being treated as an intentional act of domestic terrorism. The investigation is ongoing.”
The FBI also said officials believe Bartkus was trying to live-stream the attack, but failed.
According to the American Reproductive Centers’ website, the clinic opened in 2006 and is the Coachella Valley’s “first and only full-service fertility center and IVF (in vitro fertilization) lab.” Its services also include LGBTQ family building, egg donation and freezing, fertility evaluations and embryo transfer.
“My heart is heavy as we grapple with the horrific explosion that occurred today outside the American Reproductive Centers. This act of violence is unforgivable, and I want to be clear: it has no place in our community,” Palm Springs Mayor Ron deHarte said in a statement Saturday.
” … I’ve been in touch with Governor (Gavin) Newsom, who has been briefed, Congressman (Raul) Ruiz, Senator (Alex) Padilla and Assembly Member (Greg) Wallis, and we are working closely with state and federal partners to bring those responsible for this heinous act to justice.
“We mourn the loss of any life. One individual tragically died in this blast, and others were injured. Our thoughts are with the injured and we send healing energy for their quick and full recovery.
“… If you have any information or find potential evidence, please do not touch it and call the PSPD non-emergency line at 760-323-8116.”
” … We are a strong and resilient community, and we will stand together in the face of this tragedy. We will not let fear define us.”
City Manager Scott Stiles said Sunday that the “horrific nature of this explosion” damaged a great number of businesses and residences nearby, and city business teams went door to door Saturday to many of those properties to help them get the recovery process started.
Palm Springs Police Chief Andrew Mills described the crime scene as several blocks in all directions and asked anyone who finds anything that could be evidence to call police.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi took to X on Saturday, writing, “We are working to learn more, but let me be clear: The Trump administration understands that women and mothers are the heartbeat of America. Violence against a fertility clinic is unforgivable.”
Dr. Maher Abdallah, who runs the clinic, posted a message on social media saying the facility’s office space was damaged but the lab was untouched. He confirmed that no employees of the clinic were injured.
“We are immensely grateful to share that no members of the ARC team were harmed, and our lab — including all eggs, embryos, and reproductive materials — remains fully secure and undamaged,” Abdallah said. “We are heavily conducting a complete safety inspection and have confirmed that our operations and sensitive medical areas were not impacted by the blast.
“Our mission has always been to help build families, and in times like these, we are reminded of just how fragile and precious life is. In the face of this tragedy, we remain committed to creating hope — because we believe that healing begins with community, compassion, and care.
“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,” Abdallah said.
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