Fertility clinic bomber identified as FBI evacuates blast zone

A 25-year-old man has been identified as the attacker who detonated a deadly car bomb outside a fertility clinic in California.

A 25-year-old Southern California man has been identified as the attacker who detonated a car bomb outside a fertility clinic in Palm Springs — killing himself and injuring four other people, according to sources.

Guy Edward Bartkus, of Twentynine Palms, is believed to have detonated an explosive device in his car outside the American Reproductive Centers, which performs IVF treatments, egg collections and other procedures, law enforcement sources told The New York Post.

FBI agents swarmed his home and evacuated the neighbourhood, declaring it a “blast zone” over concerns that he could have left explosives behind, ABC7 reported.

The damaged front of the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic stands following a bomb blast on May 17, 2025 in Palm Springs, California. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

During a late-night press conference, Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, confirmed the agency was handling the investigation but declined to say whether the raid was directly connected to the recent fatal explosion outside an IVF clinic in Palm Springs.

The FBI had confirmed the suspect was the sole fatality of the bombing.

Tactical teams, armoured vehicles, including bomb squad units in full gear, surrounded the house. Those on the ground heard a loud bang and officials yell “fire in the hole,” which is common during a controlled detonation, the outlet reported.

Investigators look at possible evidence near the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic following a bomb blast in Palm Springs, California. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

The home is located about an hour away from the American Reproductive Centers, where a bomb explosion has been labelled an “intentional act of terrorism” by the FBI.

IVF clinic bomber suspect, Guy Edward Bartkus. Picture: Facebook

Bartkus allegedly described his fanatical pro-death beliefs in written and recorded manifestos as being against bringing more people into the world without their consent to spare them from future suffering, KCAL news reported.

Investigators walk the on the scene of an explosion Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Palm Springs, California. Picture: AP Photo/Eric Thayer

Firefighters responded to the blast at the reproductive health facility around 11am local time.

Debris and broken glass could be seen strewn over the street in front of the centre, while firefighters worked outside, according to photos and videos from the scene.

Unconfirmed reports on social media claimed smouldering body parts were found at the scene.

Smoke was visible over the town, and residents told The Desert Sun newspaper they smelled a strange odour following the explosion, which could be felt up to three miles away.

Police found two rifles — an AK-47 and an AR-style rifle — along with ammunition next to the exploded vehicle, according to an internal briefing obtained by the LA Times.

A police line is seen outside a damaged American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic after a bomb blast outside the building in Palm Springs, California. Picture: Gabriel Osorio / AFP

Thomas Bickel, a nearby resident, told ABC7 about the moment deputies knocked on his door and told him he had to leave his home.

“There was just a bunch of sheriff’s deputies going door to door, telling everyone to leave,” Bickel told the outlet.

“There wasn’t a whole lot of activity, like at that point, none of this was closed down yet. My little house happened to be the closest house to the house that they’re investigating, so I was one of the first ones to get told to evacuate,” he said.

Bickel said the situation has left him shaken, especially considering how close his family was to potential danger.

“I have kids and they come hang out at my house sometimes, and knowing that someone was building a bomb that close to where me and my kids are, it’s pretty scary,” Bickel said.

The FBI has not yet confirmed the materials found in the Twentynine Palms home.

Debris covers the ground after the blast. Picture: ABC7 Los Angeles via AP

In a recent update, Akil Davis, the head of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, told reporters, “This was an intentional act of terrorism. As our investigation will unfold we will determine if it’s international terrorism or domestic terrorism.”

In response to a question on whether the clinic in Palm Springs was purposefully targeted, Akil said: “We believe so, yes.”

Palm Springs Police spokesperson Mike Villegas earlier told reporters the car explosion was “an intentional act of violence”.

The mayor of Palm Springs, Ron deHarte, was cited by the Los Angeles Times as saying “a bomb in or near a vehicle parked at the building” caused the blast.

Five people were injured in the blast, which produced a large debris field and damaged a number of businesses, NBC News reports.

The aftermath of the deadly blast. Picture: ABC7 Los Angeles via AP

The act was being investigated as a possible car explosion, police sources told Fox News.

There is no information yet on a possible motive for the blast, which occurred at 11am, local time.

Dr Maher Abdallah, who runs the American Reproductive Centres fertility clinic where the explosion occurred, told The Associated Press in a phone interview that all of his staff were safe and accounted for.

The explosion damaged the practice’s office space, where it conducts consultations with patients, but left the IVF lab and all of the stored embryos there unharmed.

“I really have no clue what happened,” Dr Abdallah said. “Thank God today happened to be a day that we have no patients.”

- With the New York Post.

Originally published as Fertility clinic bomber identified as FBI evacuates blast zone