The person believed responsible for an attack aimed at a fertility clinic in southern California on Saturday published online writings before an explosion that researchers are dealing with as an act of terrorism, according to an official of the law.
The suspect, who died in the explosion that crossed the clinic and shook the exclusive city of Palm Springs in California, also tried to record videos or transmit the attack, said the official, who was not authorized to discuss the details of the attack and spoke on condition of anonymity to Associated Press.
“Do not be wrong: this is an intentional act of terrorism,” said Akil Davis, head of the FBI Los Angeles Campo Office, at a press conference.
The authorities were still working to rebuild a reason and build a chronology of events prior to the attack. Although the FBI did not say how it had determined that the explosion was terrorism, the writings left behind, in which the suspect communicated the belief that the world should not be populated, seem to shed light on the person’s mental state and help explain the thesis of the researchers that the attack was directed and intentional.
The authorities have not published the identity of the person who is believed to be responsible, but believes that the individual died in a car explosion. Davis said researchers were not looking for anyone else.
Four others were injured, but the details of the seriousness of their wounds were not shared.
A burned vehicle was observed in the parking lot behind the clinic after the explosion, which collapsed on the roof of the building, sprinkled debris on a five -lane road and shattered windows in the companies to block. The clinic was closed during the weekend, and the doctor who leads told the AP that his employees were safe.
The explosion destroyed the fertility clinic of the American reproductive centers, located in a single -floor building along a five -lane street bordered by palm trees.
Dr. Maher Abdallah, who directs the clinic, told the AP in a telephone interview that the explosion damaged the practice of practice, where he makes consultations with the patients. The IVF Laboratory and the clinic stored embryos are out of the site and did not suffer damage.
“Thank God today was a day we don’t have patients,” said Abdallah.
The mayor of Palm Springs, Pro Tem, Naomi Soto, called the clinic “A place of hope.”
“This is a building that people will begin or expand to their families,” he said. “We recognize their pain and concern throughout the community for patients and staff.”
Rhino Williams, 47, said he was chatting with customers in the restaurant of a hotel that helps one block to a block when he heard a great boom. Everything shook, Williams said, and ran to the scene to see if someone needed help.
Williams covered his nose with his shirt as he smelled like plastic and rubber. He said he saw that a building had “fly” on the street, with bricks and debris scattered everywhere, and saw the front axis of a flame car in the parking lot.
It was the only car in the lot, said Williams, who ran into the building, calling and looking behind the counter to see if someone was inside. He did not listen to an answer and saw anyone behind the counter.
Williams then ran reviewing other buildings. Multiple windows of the neighboring liquor shop were also flew. Once he saw the authorities arrive, Williams returned to the hotel, he said.
Steven Michael Chacon was in his car preparing to become a hospital on the other side of the street when he felt and listened to a massive boom when the building was shattered, sending a large column of black smoke in the air. Without knowing what happened, he left his car to flee from the scene. The glass was all over the ground, and saw what seemed to be a part of the body.
“I left my car and then people started screaming, there were bloody people, there were glass everywhere,” he said.
Palm Springs, on a two -hour trip east of Los Angeles, is known by exclusive resorts, golf courses and a history of famous residents.
The Trump administration condemned the attack.
“The Trump administration understands that women and mothers are the beat of America,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi in a statement. “Violence against a fertility clinic is unforgivable.”
___
The Associated Press Sejal Govindarao and Kathleen Ronayne journalists contributed.
