Palm Springs bombing: Report of another arrest; FBI news conference at 9 a.m.
A 32-year-old Washington man was arrested in connection with the car bombing last month outside a Palm Springs fertility clinic.
Daniel Park of Kent, Washington, was arrested in Poland and taken into custody by the FBI at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City, for allegedly aiding bomber Guy Edward Bartkus. The FBI alleged Park shipped ammonium nitrate to Bartkus and visited him in January and February this year.
The vehicle bomb, which occurred on May 17, killed Bartkus and injured four others. The FBI has called the bombing an intentional act of terrorism. It is believed Bartkus targeted the American Reproductive Centers in Palm Springs because he held "antinatalist" beliefs.
The FBI's Los Angeles division is holding a press conference at 9 a.m. to discuss "new developments in a significant matter involving national security." When asked about the arrest, an FBI spokesperson directed a Desert Sun reporter to the press conference.
At around 10:52 a.m., Saturday, May 17, a powerful explosion occurred in Palm Springs in a parking lot behind American Reproductive Centers, a fertility clinic that provided in vitro fertilization treatment to local women.
The explosion caused the partial collapse of the building and damaged others within several blocks. The city estimates that between $6 million and $12 million in damage occurred because of the blast.
Four people were injured. Eyewitnesses report the injuries in the Denny's restaurant, across the street from the parking lot.
The FBI has identified Twentynine Palms resident Guy Edward Bartkus as the suspected bomber. His home, which he shared with his mother, has been extensively searched by federal agents.
In recordings and writings posted online that have been linked to Bartkus, although not officially confirmed by the FBI, the suspect discussed his motivations for the bombing. He held an "antinatalist" view of the world, stating that new human life should not be created because life inherently involves suffering.
He also pointed to the recent suicide of one of his best friends as a motivating factor.
Bartkus' father described his son as a computer whiz with a good heart. He said Bartkus built his own computers from the age of 9 and was an avid gamer.
When Bartkus was about 8 years old, his father said the boy burned down their house in a community north of Yucca Valley by playing with matches.
Since the bombing, investigators have searched for individuals who may have known about the attack before it occurred.
Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills has said Bartkus discussed explosives online as far back as 2022.
"I don't know that he had any help. I do know that he was discussing this in chat rooms and on YouTube channels, he was experimenting with different explosives," Mills told The Desert Sun on May 20. "There was a conversation in the dark web, if you will, over this kind of thing."
Here are the key events leading up to and following the deadly explosion:
May 17 at approximately 6 a.m.: Evidence shows that Bartkus left his residence in Twentynine Palms and was in the Palm Springs vicinity for 'several hours' prior to the bombing.
May 17 at approximately 10:52 a.m.: An explosion occurs outside the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic in Palm Springs, killing one person and injuring four others.
May 17 around noon: First responders are 'still arriving on scene' more than an hour after the explosion occurred.
May 17 in the afternoon: Investigators raided a property in Twentynine Palms believed to be tied to the suspect, said Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the Los Angeles FBI field office, on Sunday, May 18.
May 18: The FBI identified Guy Edward Bartkus as a 'person of interest' and said that evidence points toward Bartkus being the person who died in the bombing.
May 18: Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills said that 'all of the people who were injured in the blast have been released from the hospital and medical care.'
May 19: The FBI confirms that DNA testing of the remains found at the scene matches Bartkus.
May 19: American Reproductive Centers, targeted by Bartkus, resumed operations in a Palm Desert physician's office.
Authorities have said Bartkus was motivated by 'extreme 'nihilistic and anti-life beliefs.''
'Authorities are examining an online manifesto and audio recordings linked to Bartkus, in which he expressed hostility towards human reproduction and cited his existential anger and despair following the recent death of a close friend,' according to a Palm Springs FAQ on the bombing. 'He specifically threatened violence against an in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinic.'
More: What we know about Guy Bartkus, suspect in Palm Springs fertility clinic bombing
Interpretations of nihilism can vary, and while it can be associated to concepts such as pessimism and cynicism, some thinkers argue differently.
Merriam-Webster defines nihilism as 'a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless.'
Britannica describes 20th-century nihilism as encompassing a variety of stances that 'in one sense or another, denied the existence of genuine moral truths or values, rejected the possibility of knowledge or communication, and asserted the ultimate meaningless or purposelessness of life or of the universe.'
The Desert Sun has previously reported that online postings suggest Bartkus was motivated by both "pro-mortalist" views, which argue that life should be ended as soon as possible because it only results in death, and "anti-natalism," the belief that having children is unethical because it only exposes more people to future suffering and death.
Desert Sun reporters contributed to this story.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Palm Springs fertility clinic bombing second arrest?
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