Authorities are investigating whether terrorism played a role in a large explosion that obliterated a fertility clinic and IVF lab in Palm Springs, California, on Saturday, and left at least one person dead.
The blast may have come from a car parked outside American Reproductive Centers, a Palm Springs Police Department official told local reporters.
“Everything is in question, whether this is an act of terrorism,” Lt. William Hutchinson told the Desert Sun.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation was on scene and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was en route.
The FBI “will be investigating whether this was an intentional act,” US Attorney Bill Essayli of the Central District of California wrote on X.
The facility, which offers in vitro fertilization, egg transfer and other fertility-related services, was closed at the time.
“I really have no clue what happened,” said Dr. Maher Abdallah, who runs the clinic and said staff were all accounted for and safe. “Thank God today happened to be a day that we have no patients.”
None of the embryos stored at the clinic were harmed, Abdallah added.
Mayor Ron DeHarte told The Post Saturday he believed one person was killed.
“We’re still trying to determine a cause,” DeHarte said. “The police and fire are down there right now. First, we heard it might be a helicopter crash or a gas leak but that’s been ruled out. We should know pretty quickly what it was. There was quite a bit of damage to surrounding buildings as well.”
One witness was inside his nearby business when the blast rocked the building, he told The Post.
“It definitely felt like an explosion. It was so loud it felt like it shook my entire core,” said Claudio Chavez, who has a custom upholstery shop nearby. “I was inside my business waiting for a client. I was sitting in my chair and it was like suddenly, like a bomb went off.
“Inside I just saw pieces of debris fall from the ceiling. Walked outside and saw my front window had totally shattered,” he said. “I went to Palm Canyon Drive and went behind and off Indian Canyon you could see more people and a large amount of smoke. Half of one building seemed to have been blown off.”
DeHarte said he didn’t know exactly what services were provided at the clinic, but said it had to do with fertility.
The clinic is near, but not associated with, the Desert Regional Hospital.
Firefighters responded to the facility around 11 a.m. local time, KSEQ reported.
Debris and broken glass could be seen strewn over the street in front of the center, while firefighters worked outside, according to photos and videos from the scene.
Unconfirmed reports on social media claimed smoldering body parts were found at the scene.
Smoke was visible over the town, and residents told The Desert Sun they smelled a strange odor following the explosion, which could be felt up to three miles away.
