The FBI has identified the man behind the deadly California fertility clinic blast as 25-year-old Guy Edward Bartkus. Authorities said he intentionally detonated a car bomb outside a Palm Springs IVF center on Saturday.
The explosion occurred near the American Reproductive Centers (ARC) just before 11:00 a.m. local time. Although the blast severely damaged the building, no staff or patients were hurt. The suspect was the only fatality in the attack.
Bartkus, from Twentynine Palms, used a silver 2010 Ford Fusion to carry out the bombing. According to law enforcement, the attack was a planned act of domestic terrorism. He attempted to livestream the explosion and left behind a manifesto that is now under review.
FBI agents described the scene as one of the largest bombing sites in recent southern California history. The blast scattered debris over a 100-foot radius and damaged several nearby buildings.
The ARC clinic said the detonation happened in the parking lot beside its facility. While part of the exterior wall collapsed, the lab remained fully secure. All stored embryos and eggs were unharmed, the clinic confirmed.
Dr Maher Abdallah, who runs the clinic, said the attack happened on a day with no patients. “Thank God today happened to be a day that we have no patients,” he told reporters. Despite the damage, he expressed relief that there were no fatalities inside the building.
Four people sustained minor injuries and have since been discharged from hospital. Authorities assured the public there is no ongoing threat either in Palm Springs or at the suspect’s home in Twentynine Palms.
The FBI executed a search warrant at Bartkus’s residence. Nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution. Officials are now tracing his movements before the California fertility clinic blast.
Investigators are urging the public to share any information about Bartkus’s recent activities. The FBI will remain on-site for the next several days to continue its investigation.
The California fertility clinic blast has raised questions about security at medical facilities and the growing threat of lone-wolf domestic attacks.
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