Man sent chemicals to aide Palm Springs fertility clinic bombing: FBI
Bartkus left behind writings that suggest he disapproved of people being brought into the world against their will and advocated for the end of childbirth and the eventual extinction of humans.The FBI has called the blast an "intentional act of terrorism" and said the fertility clinic was deliberately targeted.Bartkus was a resident of Twentynine Palms, a small city about 150 miles (240km) east of Los Angeles.Authorities said Bartkus loaded his 2010 silver Ford Fusion sedan with explosives before driving an hour from Twentynine Palms to Palm Springs.The blast was felt more than a mile away.At a news conference on Wednesday, US Attorney Bill Essayli said Mr Park and Bartkus spent time together conducting experiments in Bartkus' garage.Several days after the explosion, Mr Park travelled to Denmark and then onto Poland, but was detained by Polish authorities and sent back to the US, where he was arrested.Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles field office, said that Mr Park "was in possession of an explosive recipe that was similar to the Oklahoma City bombing."Investigators say the pair discussed plans online and were part of a movement sometimes called anti-natalism, also known as efilism.Mr Davis referred to the site of the fertility clinic as "the largest bombing scene" the FBI had seen in southern California in recent memory.Several buildings were damaged in the blast, including the fertility clinic with images showing a portion of its wall destroyed.According to its website, the ARC clinic is the first full-service fertility centre and IVF lab in the Coachella Valley.It offers services including fertility evaluations, IVF, egg donation and freezing, reproductive support for same-sex couples and surrogacy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
7 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Washington Mayor slams Donald Trump's city takeover as troops flood capital
Donald Trump has hinted he will send the National Guard wing of the US armed forces to Democrat-run cities in what his supporters call a crackdown on rampant crime The Mayor of Washington DC has slammed Donald Trump's takeover of the city an "authoritarian push" as National Guard troops flood the US capital. Democrat mayor Muriel Bowser slammed Mr Trump over his crime crackdown as the US military prepares to patrol the district's streets after the Republican president branded the capital a "lawless" city. Speaking about the move on Tuesday night, she said: "This is a time when the community needs to jump in. To protect our city, to protect our autonomy, to protect our home rule. "Get to the other side of this guy and make sure we elect a Democratic House so that we have a backstop to this authoritarian push." The mayor's combative stance comes after she branded the takeover as "unprecedented," although she admitted she was not "totally surprised." It comes after Donald Trump was seen with a mystery mark in Scotland after his chronic health diagnosis. The National Guard arrived in the US capital at about 8pm on Tuesday after Mr Trump said he wanted to curb violent crime in the city. Mr Trump activated the national guard following an attempted carjacking involving DOGE employee Edward Coristine, who was beaten while trying to protect a woman. His comments are a stark contrast to his previous responses to crime in Washington DC. Following his inauguration, Mr Trump pardoned nearly 1,600 people convicted or awaiting trio for the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots with more than 600 having been convicted or pleading guilty to assault, or obstructing law enforcement and 170 of having used a deadly weapon. National Guard troops have been seen in the capital with a master sergeant telling The New York Times military Humvees parked on the National Mall was part of a "presence patrol." The Washington Post said Pentagon documents said there could be 600 troops on the ground within a single hour anywhere in the US should they be given approval. Mr Trump suggested on Monday that he could extend the takeover to other major cities in the US, such as New York City and Chicago, all Democrat-run states. Mr Trump said: "This will go further. "We're going to take back our capital…and then we'll look at other cities also." Mr Trump has the ability to send troops to Washington DC as it is not a state and is under tight federal control, his efforts to do so in states - such as California - has been challenged in the courts. While Mr Trump signalled out Democrat-run states, FBI crime statistics show four out of the five US cities with at least 100,000 residents that had the highest number of crimes against 100,000 people, were in Republican voting states. Not every agency reports to the FBI, and therefore the list is not fully complete: Memphis, Tennessee Cleveland, Ohio Toledo, Ohio Little Rock, Arkansas Peoria, Illinois Springfield, Illinois Detroit, Michigan Akron, Ohio Beaumont, Texas Rockford, Illinois Figures from Washington DC's Metropolitan Police indicates crime remains high in the capital but also suggests violent offences have fallen following a peak in 2023 and 2024. It has since reached its lowest levels in 30 years. Violent crime is down 26 per cent this year compared to the same time period last year and instances of robbery are down 28 per cent. Violent crime data is collected differently by the metropolitan police and FBI, with public data indicating a drop of 25 per cent for 2024 and a nine per cent drop, respectively. Critics have said Mr Trump's efforts are a distraction from mounting criticism over how his administration has fumbled the handling of releasing files related to the death and connections of Jeffrey Epstein. But Republicans have argued crime in major cities is out of control and has not been curbed by Democrats who run many densely populated areas of the country.
The Herald Scotland
4 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Visit DC and enjoy America's swift descent into tyranny!
That epidemic does not exist, of course, but the words of the president tend to carry more weight than police data showing violent crime at a decades-long low. How will DC tourism survive Trump calling the city a filthy hellhole? So, who's going to want to pack up the kids and spend a fun weekend in a place the president of the United States says "is under siege from out-of-control violent crime"? Do you feel safe going to DC? In the wake of Trump's federal DC takeover, are you worried about crime? Tell us. | Opinion Forum Don't worry, DC tourism officials, I'm here to help. Where some see a Trump-induced tourism disaster, I see a Trump-induced tourism disasterpportunity. A helpful tourism pitch for DC under federal control Here's your new pitch to tourists: Have you ever wanted to walk through a historic city filled with armed soldiers who look bored? Are you a World War II buff fascinated with how the Reichstag fire allowed the Nazi Party to consolidate control in Germany? Do you like seeing guns, guns and more guns?!? Then DC is the family-friendly destination for your next vacation! Opinion: Nobody knows what Trump is talking about anymore and no one seems to care Don't listen to "fake news" reports that make a federal takeover of the city police force sound scary. The various soldiers just add a new layer to Washington's long-standing status as an educational destination rich in American history. It's something we're calling "The District of Columbia's Live Re-creation of the Authoritarian Experience!" And you'll want to visit soon, because the event has a limited run time - we hope. Take in the sights, all while enjoying America's swift descent into tyranny! Visitors can stroll the National Mall and other famous sites under the watchful eyes of uniformed soldiers, FBI agents and other federal authorities, all while appreciating America's slow erosion of civil rights, the government's rampant use of propaganda and the opportunistic silencing of political critics. Parents will cherish the moments when they can turn to their children and exclaim: "Careful what you say, kids! They might arrest Mom and Dad and send us to an El Salvadoran prison if they think we sound like enemies of the state!" Wait, this city doesn't look like a lawless wasteland? Oh, the memories you'll create as you witness a city that isn't actually covered in filth and wonder if the current administration is using the nation's capital as a testing ground for an authoritarian takeover of other major American cities. And because the soldiers having their lives upended so they can stand around in a city that has seen a 26% reduction in violent crime won't be all that busy, you and the kids can ask them questions like "Why are you doing this?" and "Did you know you have the right to refuse an illegal order?" and "Why did you arrest that labradoodle, he was just peeing?" Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. Learning about authoritarianism has never been this fun! The Live Re-creation of the Authoritarian Experience will also feature an array of informational sidewalk booths throughout the city, aimed at helping visitors understand everything from why their skin color makes them look deportable to how they can better pay homage to President Donald Trump. (MAGA merchandise will be sold at every booth, and a minimum $100 purchase is mandatory for each family!) So clear some dates on your calendar and book a trip to beautiful Washington, DC. You know our motto: "Nothing says American freedom like an armed federal takeover based on a transparent lie!" Follow USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke on Bluesky at @ and on Facebook at
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
USPS worker who stole checks from the mail arrested after flashing cash on social media
A Los Angeles postal worker has admitted to stealing people's checks and credit cards from their mail while flaunting stacks of cash on social media. Mary Ann Magdamit, 31, of Carson, California, an ex-employee of the US Postal Service in Torrance, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. She was arrested for the crime that victimized individuals, as well as federal banks and credit unions, on July 1 and has remained in custody since. From at least 2022 to July 2025, Magadamit abused her letter carrier position, according to a statement from the US Attorney's Office. She snatched checks, personal identifying information, debit cards and credit cards en route to people's mailboxes - all while sharing pictures of herself posing with thick wads of money on the internet. In one picture, she donned a Yankee hat while leaning a stack of bills that spanned the length of her face up against it. She sprawled out a fan of bills - about half of which appeared to have been hundreds - across her lap in a car in another shot. Magdamit activated the bank cards online and used them to make massive purchases with the stolen funds, including lavish trips to Aruba and Turks and Caicos. In a photo uploaded to her Instagram story, Magdamit held a glass of champagne as she lounged by an infinity pool, writing 'life is gooood.' She even dished out some of the cards to her co-conspirators and made them fraudulently cash the stolen checks 'using counterfeit identity documents in the name of the check's payee,' the statement reads. Magdamit's digital footprint seemingly sounded the alarm to authorities and led them straight to her door when they picked up on the mysterious missing mail pattern in the Torrance area. Her apartment was raided in December 2024 in connection with the scheme, and investigators were greeted with a slew of incriminating evidence. Law enforcement seized 133 stolen debit and credit cards, 16 US Department of Treasury checks and a loaded ghost gun with an extended 27-round magazine, the Attorney's Office wrote. A ghost gun is an unserialized Glock-style gun assembled by its owner, often forgoing the licensing required to be a legal weapon. But she was not arrested until about seven months later after agents discovered Magdamit had not learned her lesson. She had continued splurging on items with hefty price tags and the feds caught on once again. They probed her apartment once again, finding more stolen cards. The office did not share the exact number. But they did note that Magdamit 'agreed to forfeit a Rolex watch and other luxury goods.' She is due to appear in court on October 27 and faces a maximum of 30 years in federal prison. Mail theft in general has become an increasingly pressing issue across the nation. In an audit report shared by the USPS in 2023, the agency was found to have had a plan in place to tackle the matter, but it was not being well executed. 'We found they do not have deployment timelines with actionable milestones to fully implement planned initiatives to address mail theft,' the report reads. 'We also found that the Postal Service lacks accountability for their arrow keys, which are often a target in carrier robberies and are used to commit mail theft.' In another report, which was released in May using data from 2024, the agency revealed more than 58 million packages were stolen during the year. The Office of Inspector General published an internal report for 2024 that specifically addressed the problem of 'internal mail theft.' The document alleged that criminal groups are 'targeting, recruiting and colluding with postal employees to move narcotics through the postal network and to steal checks – both personal and government-issued checks – credit cards and other valuables from the mail.'
