The explosion is believed to have originated near a parked vehicle, and authorities are considering all angles, including the possibility of terrorism.
An explosion outside a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California killed one person and injured four, causing serious damage to a nearby building. The FBI said it is investigating the incident as a terrorist act.
Mills said that responding authorities recorded one fatality, but the person’s identity is not yet known.
“Undoubtedly, this was a deliberate act of terrorism,” Akil Davis, assistant director of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, said at a press conference on Saturday afternoon.
In addition to the deceased individual, Davis confirmed that four other people were injured.
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Davis said the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force was leading the investigation. He said investigators have not yet decided who is responsible for the explosion.
“Our investigation will be unfolding. We’re going to determine whether it’s an international or domestic terrorist attack,” Davis said.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office, Palm Springs Police Department, Palm Springs Fire Department and Cathedral Police all responded to the explosion.
Dr. Maher Abdallah, director of the American Reproductive Center Fertility Clinic, confirmed that the facility was damaged in the explosion. He said all his staff were safe and explained.
“I really have no clue what happened,” Abdallah said. “Thank God today. It happened to be a day when there were no patients.”
Santa Monica resident Nima Tabritzi said he was inside a nearby cannabis clinic when he heard the big explosion.
“The building just shook, we went outside and the clouds were getting bigger,” Tabrizi said. “A crazy explosion. It felt like the bomb had disappeared. …We went to the scene and saw the human body.”
Located about two hours east of Los Angeles, Palm Springs is known for its desert climate, luxurious resorts and a long history as a Hollywood celebrity holiday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
