A deadly bombing explosion outside a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, has left one person dead and four others injured in what federal investigators are calling a deliberate act of terrorism.
The blast occurred late Friday morning, just before 11 a.m. local time, in a commercial area less than a mile from downtown Palm Springs. The explosion shook the neighborhood, damaging several nearby buildings, including one housing the American Reproductive Centers (ARC), a fertility clinic. Though the clinic’s property sustained damage, officials confirmed that none of its staff or patients were injured.
Law enforcement has identified the suspect as 25-year-old Guy Edward Bartkus, a resident of Twentynine Palms.
Sources familiar with the investigation say Bartkus had previously expressed opposition to population growth and fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF), which the targeted clinic offers. Investigators believe the explosion was caused by a vehicle-borne explosive device.
Explosion Causes Widespread Damage in Busy Business District
The explosion’s force was so intense that it shattered windows and caused structural damage to nearby businesses. Witnesses described a chaotic scene immediately after the blast.
One witness, Michael Beaumier, said the blast knocked him off his bicycle, and he could hear glass breaking all around him. Another, Rhino Williams, who was working at his nearby restaurant, initially believed the explosion was a crash involving an aircraft.
When he arrived at the scene, he found a heavily damaged building with part of a car still burning in the parking lot. He noticed a smartphone mounted on a tripod, seemingly left to record the event.
If the Palm Springs IVF explosion was terrorism, we won't know until their social media is scrubbed. If it was a white Christian male, we'll know today. pic.twitter.com/3aVRyXEXKL
— Jere_Memez (@Jere_Memez) May 17, 2025
Nima Tabrizi, another eyewitness, said he saw thick smoke and that the front of the clinic appeared completely destroyed.
Despite the dramatic scene, ARC representatives assured the public that the clinic’s critical areas, including its lab and all stored eggs and embryos, remained secure and undamaged. In a statement, the clinic confirmed it is conducting a thorough safety inspection and will continue to evaluate the integrity of its facility.
Clinic director Dr. Maher Abdallah told the Associated Press that the office had been damaged but emphasized that no patients were present during the explosion. He said the clinic had not been operating appointments that day, which may have prevented further injuries.
Investigation Points to Terrorist Motive Rooted in Anti-Fertility Beliefs
During a press conference on Saturday, Akil Davis, the FBI’s special agent in charge of the Los Angeles field office, stated that the explosion was intentional and being treated as an act of terrorism. He added that investigators are still working to determine whether it was motivated by domestic or international ideologies.
Authorities say they are not actively searching for Bartkus, whom they have described as a person of interest. His alleged writings and recordings express strong disapproval of IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies, calling them morally wrong.
The American Reproductive Centers is known as the first comprehensive fertility clinic in the Coachella Valley, offering services like fertility assessments, IVF, egg freezing, and reproductive support for LGBTQ+ families.
In response to the incident, the Center for Reproductive Rights condemned the attack, calling it a clear sign of the risks faced by reproductive health providers. The group said growing political hostility toward fertility care, especially IVF, has increased threats to patients and clinics.
The explosion comes as reproductive rights remain a contentious issue in U.S. politics. While IVF remains widely supported across party lines, some extremist voices have pushed back against its use, citing religious or ethical reasons.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said the state is closely coordinating with federal and local agencies to monitor the investigation. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed she had been briefed on the incident and expressed concern over the attack’s implications for public safety and healthcare access.
