Authorities announced Sunday that a 25-year-old man, identified as Guy Edward Bartkus of Twentynine Palms, was believed to be responsible for an explosion at a Southern California fertility clinic.
The FBI described the incident as an act of terrorism.
Zoom out: Bartkus allegedly set off a car bomb that caused significant damage to the American Reproductive Centers clinic in Palm Springs on Saturday. Prior to the attack, he left behind writings espousing so-called “anti-natalist” beliefs, authorities revealed.
- Anti-natalism is a philosophy that argues against procreation.
- The explosion resulted in the destruction of the clinic along with damage to neighboring buildings. Witnesses reported hearing a loud blast followed by a chaotic scene of shattered glass and terrified individuals.
- According to investigators, Bartkus was killed in the explosion, which was described by a senior FBI official as one of the largest bombing scenes in Southern California. A body was discovered near a burned vehicle outside the clinic.
- It was also noted that Bartkus attempted to livestream the bombing and left behind documents expressing “nihilistic ideations.” Authorities are currently analyzing these materials to gain insights into his mindset.
The big picture: The FBI’s Los Angeles field office assistant director, Akil Davis, stated that the attack was specifically targeted at the IVF facility and emphasized that it is being treated as an intentional act of terrorism.
- Although four individuals were injured in the bombing, all embryos housed at the clinic were reported to be safe.
What they’re saying: “This was a targeted attack against the IVF facility. Make no mistake: we are treating this, as I said yesterday, as an intentional act of terrorism,” said Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office.
- “Thank God today happened to be a day that we have no patients,” Dr. Maher Abdallah, who leads the clinic, told the AP in a phone interview Saturday.
