Palm Springs: Federal investigators have identified the suspect behind Saturday’s fatal bombing outside a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California. FBI officials confirmed on Sunday that 25-year-old Guy Edward Bartkus is believed to be responsible for the targeted explosion, which they are treating as an act of terrorism.
“We are fairly confident that Mr. Bartkus is our primary suspect,” said Akil Davis, assistant director at the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, during a press conference.
According to Davis, the suspect harbored “nihilistic ideations” and deliberately targeted the in vitro fertilization (IVF) facility operated by the American Reproductive Center. “Make no mistake. We are treating this … as an intentional act of terrorism,” he added.
The bomb exploded shortly before 11 a.m. local time on Saturday, in or near a vehicle parked outside the clinic. The blast resulted in the death of one individual and injured at least four others. Officials have confirmed that no embryos stored within the clinic were damaged.
Authorities believe Bartkus died during the explosion. His body was found near the detonation site, next to a 2010 silver Ford Fusion. Investigators suspect he attempted to livestream the attack.
The FBI has launched a court-authorized search of Bartkus’s residence and is examining what they described as a possible manifesto. Media outlets, including the Los Angeles Times, have reported that a website potentially linked to the suspect featured writings advocating a pro-mortalist philosophy and a rejection of human life.
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“Basically, I’m a pro-mortalist,” the author wrote, according to the Times.
Post-blast footage revealed significant damage to the single-story clinic structure, including a large hole torn into one of its walls. Authorities described the scene as the largest bombing crime scene in southern California’s history, with fragments of the vehicle scattered hundreds of feet in every direction.
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While Bartkus was not previously known to federal authorities, the FBI is now processing hundreds of tips and pieces of evidence in connection with the case.
“We do not believe that there’s an ongoing threat to the public,” Davis stated.
