Investigators treating explosion outside Californian fertility clinic as terrorism

Los Angeles: The person believed responsible for an attack targeting a Southern California fertility clinic posted rambling online writings before an explosion that investigators are treating as an act of terrorism, according to a law enforcement official.

Authorities on Sunday identified the suspect as Guy Edward Bartkus, 25, of Twentynine Palms, saying he died in the apparent car bomb detonation that gutted the American Reproductive Centres clinic and injured four other people in Palm Springs.

Bartkus attempted to livestream the explosion and left behind writings that communicated “nihilistic ideations” that were still being examined to determine his state of mind, said Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office. US Attorney Bilal “Bill” Essayli, the top federal prosecutor in the area, called the message “anti-pro-life”.

Authorities were still working to build a chronology of events leading up to the attack.

“Make no mistake: this is an intentional act of terrorism,” Davis told reporters.

A burned-out vehicle was seen in the parking lot behind the clinic after the blast, which caved in the building’s roof, sprayed debris across a five-lane road and shattered windows in businesses blocks away. The clinic was closed for the weekend and the doctor who leads it said its staffers were safe.

Debris covers the ground after the Palm Springs explosion.Credit: AP

Dr Maher Abdallah, who leads the clinic, said the explosion damaged the practice’s office space, where it conducted consultations with patients. The clinic’s IVF lab and stored embryos were off-site and were not damaged.

He said it had happened on a day when no patients were on site.

Palm Springs Mayor Pro Tem Naomi Soto called the clinic “a place of hope”.

“This is a building that people go to to start or expand their families,” she said. “We acknowledge their pain and concern across the community for the patients and staff.”

Law enforcement investigate a vehicle after the explosion.Credit: AP

Rhino Williams, 47, said he was chatting with customers at a hotel restaurant he helps manage just over a block away when he heard a huge boom. Everything rattled, Williams said, and he sprinted to the scene to see if anyone needed help.

Williams covered his nose with his shirt as he smelled burning plastic and rubber. He said he saw a building had “blown out” into the street, with bricks and debris scattered everywhere, and he spotted a car’s front axle on fire in the parking lot.

This image provided by Nima Tabrizi shows glass and debris on the ground after the explosion.Credit: AP

It was the only car in the lot, said Williams, who ran into the building, calling out and peering behind the counter to see if anyone was inside. He did not hear a response and did not see anyone behind the counter.

Williams then ran around checking on other buildings. Multiple windows of the neighbouring bottle shop were also blown out. Once he saw authorities arrive, Williams headed back to the hotel, he said.

Steven Michael Chacon was in his car preparing to turn into a hospital across the street from the clinic when felt and heard a massive boom as the building was torn apart, sending a massive plume of black smoke into the air. Not knowing what happened, he exited his car to flee the scene. Glass was all over the ground, and he saw what appeared to be a body part.

“I got out of my car and then people started screaming, there were people bloody, there was glass everywhere,” he said.

Palm Springs, about a two-hour drive east of Los Angeles, is known for upscale resorts, golf courses and a history of celebrity residents.

The Trump administration condemned the attack.

“The Trump administration understands that women and mothers are the heartbeat of America,” Attorney-General Pam Bondi said in a statement. “Violence against a fertility clinic is unforgivable.

AP

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