A bomb detonated outside a fertility clinic in the United States, resulting in one fatality in what the FBI has classified as a terror attack.
The explosion occurred in Palm Springs, California, causing significant damage to the facility and shattering windows and doors of nearby buildings.
“This is unequivocally an intentional act of terrorism,” Akil Davis, the head of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, stated to reporters at the explosion site.
“This is likely one of the largest bombing investigations we have ever conducted in Southern California,” he added.
Authorities are actively working to identify the individual who died, he noted.
When asked if the clinic was specifically targeted, Mr. Davis responded: “We believe so, yes.”
Akil Davis mentioned that the FBI is in the process of identifying the deceased individual.
Palm Springs Mayor Ron deHarte indicated earlier that investigators confirmed a bomb had exploded in or near a vehicle outside the clinic.
Eyewitnesses reported to local media that they noticed a body near the American Reproductive Centers clinic, and aerial footage revealed that the facility’s roof had collapsed.
Remnants of a burnt vehicle were located in a parking lot, some distance from the presumed epicenter of the explosion.
Debris was scattered across the road, and multiple nearby buildings sustained roof damage, illustrating the blast’s immense force.
Mr. Davis described the explosion as “significant,” noting that debris was propelled more than 180 meters from the site, but he refrained from commenting further on the bomb’s characteristics.
According to a local ABC affiliate, citing an unnamed law enforcement source, the deceased individual was a suspect involved in the explosion.
Mr. Davis told reporters that while the FBI is working to identify the deceased, “we are keeping that information closely guarded to maintain the integrity of the investigation.”
A statement released on social media by the clinic confirmed that no staff members were injured and that its lab — “including all eggs, embryos, and reproductive materials — remains completely secure and undamaged”.
It stated that “a vehicle exploded in the parking lot near our building”.
Reproductive care, including abortion and fertility services, remains a contentious topic in the United States, where some conservatives advocate for restrictions based on religious beliefs.
While violence against clinics offering such services is uncommon, it is not unprecedented.
US President Donald Trump’s Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that federal agents are working to establish the facts surrounding the incident.
I have been briefed on the explosion at a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, that occurred today. Federal agents are on site, responding in collaboration with local law enforcement.
We are gathering more information, but I want to be clear: the Trump administration is aware…
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) May 17, 2025
In her social media statement, she emphasized: “Let me be clear: the Trump administration recognizes that women and mothers are the heartbeat of America. Violence against a fertility clinic is indefensible.”
Residents near the clinic reported feeling the tremors from the blast.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has been briefed on the explosion, according to his office.
Matt Spencer, a nearby resident, told the Palm Springs Post that he rushed outside after hearing the explosion and saw the burnt vehicle.
“I could see the back of the car still ablaze, with the rims as the only remaining identifier as a car,” he remarked.
The Center for Reproductive Rights, a global advocacy organization, condemned the bombing as “horrific” and “unconscionable”.
“The history of violence against reproductive health centers underscores the need for protections for clinics and ensuring patients feel secure,” its president Nancy Northup stated.
