Latest news with #NorthIndianCanyonDrive
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Terror in Palm Springs as one person dies and four are injured in car blast near fertility clinic
Firefighters are responding to a powerful 'car explosion' at a building in Palm Springs that injured four people and killed one on Saturday in an incident the FBI called an 'intentional act of terrorism'. The blast occurred shortly before 11am at the American Reproductive Centers on North Indian Canyon Drive, and it was felt up to two miles away. Authorities did not confirmed whether the explosion was accidental or intentional, but Lt William Hutchinson told The Desert Sun that there appeared to be at least one fatality, and 'everything is in question'. Act of 'terrorism': The blast occurred at around 11am on North Indian Canyon Drive Multiple witnesses reported hearing a loud boom, and dramatic videos shared on social media showed the explosion had shattered windows of a nearby liquor store. NBC Palm Springs described the incident as a 'car explosion', although officials were yet to confirm the cause or release additional details. California Attorney Bilal 'Bill' Essayli said on X that his office was aware of the Palm Springs explosion and confirmed the FBI's on the scene investigating whether it was an intentional act, with more details to be released once confirmed. Governor Gavin Newsom's been briefed on the blast, according to a statement from his office: 'The state, through [California Governor's Office of Emergency Services] is coordinating with local and federal authorities to support the response.' Dr Maher Abdallah of the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic confirmed to The Associated Press that his facility was among the properties damaged in the blast. He said all staff members were safe and accounted for. The explosion impacted the office area used for patient consultations but did not harm the IVF laboratory or any of the stored embryos. 'I really have no clue what happened,' Abdallah said. 'Thank God today happened to be a day that we have no patients.' The FBI told reporters that the person killed was close to the vehicle that had been blown to pieces outside the clinic. Graphic images from the scene seem to show charred human remains. Palm Springs police and fire services urged residents to avoid the area so emergency crews could continue to manage the scene. Witness videos: Multiple observers reported hearing a loud boom, and dramatic clips shared on social media showed how the blast shattered nearby windows The explosion occurred near to but not on the grounds of Palm Springs' main hospital Desert Regional Medical Center, according to a spokesperson. American Reproductive Centers offered fertility treatments but did not perform abortions. According to its website, the building housed the Coachella Valley's first and only full-service fertility clinic and in vitro fertilization lab. The hospital remained fully operational, according to spokesperson Rich Ramhoff. Nearby resident Matt Spencer told The Desert Sun that he was at home in his apartment just 200 yards away when the explosion happened. When Spencer walked over to the center, he was stunned by the destruction and disturbed by what looked like body parts scattered at close quarters.
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Fertility clinic explosion was terror attack: FBI say reproductive centre blast in Palm Springs was deliberate and extremist plot
The FBI have confirmed the powerful explosion at a building in Palm Springs that injured five people on Saturday morning was a terror attack. 'Make no mistake: This is an intentional act of terrorism,' Akil Davis, the head of the FBI's Los Angeles field office, told an evening news conference. The suspect, who died in the blast at the American Reproductive Centers on North Indian Canyon Drive, near East Tachevah Drive, also attempted to record video or stream the attack. They also posted online writings prior to the explosion that investigators are treating as an act of terrorism, a law enforcement official said. The posts, which the suspect believed should have been populated, appear to have helped investigators uncover that the attack was targeted and intentional. They believe the individual died in a car explosion and are not looking for anyone else. Multiple witnesses reported hearing a loud boom, and dramatic videos shared on social media show the explosion shattered windows of a nearby liquor store. Hutchinson said there appears to be at least one fatality. A statement on behalf of Governor Gavin Newsomsaid: 'The state, through [California Governor's Office of Emergency Services], is coordinating with local and federal authorities to support the response.' Dr. Maher Abdallah, who operates the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic, confirmed to The Associated Press that his facility was among the properties damaged in the blast. He said all staff members were safe and accounted for. The explosion impacted the office area used for patient consultations but did not harm the IVF laboratory or any of the stored embryos. 'I really have no clue what happened,' Dr Abdallah said. 'Thank God today happened to be a day that we have no patients.' Graphic images from the scene seem to show charred human remains. Palm Springs Police and Fire are urging residents to avoid the area so emergency crews can manage the scene. The explosion occurred near—but not on—the grounds of Palm Springs' main hospital, Desert Regional Medical Center, according to a hospital spokesperson. American Reproductive Centers offers fertility treatments but does not perform abortions. According to its website, the building houses the Coachella Valley's first and only full-service fertility clinic and in vitro fertilization lab. Opened in 2006, the center offers a comprehensive range of fertility services, including IVF, egg donation, genetic testing, egg freezing, fertility evaluations for both men and women, intrauterine insemination, LGBTQ family planning, and surrogacy support. The incident comes as in vitro fertilization remains a national flashpoint, with President Donald Trump naming IVF access a policy priority—a move that has sparked both praise and controversy amid broader debates over reproductive rights. Palm Springs resident Tamara Cash was out jogging just a few blocks away when the explosion rocked the American Reproductive Centers on Indian Canyon Drive. 'It was so loud it shook me,' she told the Desert Sun. Ms Cash ran past the smoldering building moments later and saw that every window in sight had been blown out—including some at nearby Desert Regional Medical Center. The hospital is still fully operational, as confirmed by spokesperson Rich Ramhoff. 'All I could hear was alarms going off in different buildings,' she added. Matt Spencer told the Desert Sun he was at home in his apartment just 200 yards away when the explosion rocked Palm Springs Saturday morning. Within minutes, he walked over to the American Reproductive Center and was stunned by the destruction. The blast had hurled the front of the building across the street into the Desert Regional parking lot, he said, and a vehicle's rear axle was still burning behind the facility. Claudio Chavez was inside the upholstery shop where he works when the blast hit, shattering the windows of the store. 'I was just in my shop waiting for clients, and all of a sudden it felt like a big explosion,' he told the NY Times. 'It took out our window. I just saw a bunch of smoke.'
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Explosion in Palm Springs sends shockwaves through the city as images show reproductive center destroyed
Firefighters are responding to a powerful explosion at a building in Palm Springs that injured five people on Saturday morning—and investigators are not ruling out terrorism. The blast occurred shortly before 11 a.m. at the American Reproductive Centers on North Indian Canyon Drive, near East Tachevah Drive, and was felt up to two miles away. 'Everything is in question—whether this is an act of terrorism,' Lt. William Hutchinson told The Desert Sun from the scene. Multiple witnesses reported hearing a loud boom, and dramatic videos shared on social media show the explosion shattered windows of a nearby liquor store. Authorities have not confirmed whether the explosion was accidental or intentional, but Hutchinson said there appears to be at least one fatality. The suspect is believed to be dead, according to authorities. NBC Palm Springs has described the incident as a 'car explosion,' though officials have yet to confirm the cause or release additional details. U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said on X that his office is aware of the Palm Springs explosion and confirmed the FBI is on the scene investigating whether it was an intentional act, with more details to be released once confirmed. The blast occurred shortly before 11 a.m. at the American Reproductive Centers on North Indian Canyon Drive, near East Tachevah Drive Governor Gavin Newsom has been briefed on the explosion, according to a statement from his office. 'The state, through [California Governor's Office of Emergency Services], is coordinating with local and federal authorities to support the response,' the statement said. Dr. Maher Abdallah, who operates the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic, confirmed to The Associated Press that his facility was among the properties damaged in the blast. He said all staff members were safe and accounted for. The explosion impacted the office area used for patient consultations but did not harm the IVF laboratory or any of the stored embryos. 'I really have no clue what happened,' Abdallah said. 'Thank God today happened to be a day that we have no patients.' Graphic images from the scene seem to show charred human remains. Palm Springs Police and Fire are urging residents to avoid the area so emergency crews can manage the scene. The explosion occurred near—but not on—the grounds of Palm Springs' main hospital, Desert Regional Medical Center, according to a hospital spokesperson. American Reproductive Centers offers fertility treatments but does not perform abortions. According to its website, the building houses the Coachella Valley's first and only full-service fertility clinic and in vitro fertilization lab. Opened in 2006, the center offers a comprehensive range of fertility services, including IVF, egg donation, genetic testing, egg freezing, fertility evaluations for both men and women, intrauterine insemination, LGBTQ family planning, and surrogacy support. The incident comes as in vitro fertilization remains a national flashpoint, with President Donald Trump naming IVF access a policy priority—a move that has sparked both praise and controversy amid broader debates over reproductive rights. Palm Springs resident Tamara Cash was out jogging just a few blocks away when the explosion rocked the American Reproductive Centers on Indian Canyon Drive. 'It was so loud it shook me,' she told the Desert Sun. Cash ran past the smoldering building moments later and saw that every window in sight had been blown out—including some at nearby Desert Regional Medical Center. The hospital is still fully operational, as confirmed by spokesperson Rich Ramhoff. 'All I could hear was alarms going off in different buildings,' she added. Matt Spencer told the Desert Sun he was at home in his apartment just 200 yards away when the explosion rocked Palm Springs Saturday morning. Within minutes, he walked over to the American Reproductive Center and was stunned by the destruction. The blast had hurled the front of the building across the street into the Desert Regional parking lot, he said, and a vehicle's rear axle was still burning behind the facility. What he saw next was even more disturbing—what looked like body parts and debris scattered across both Indian Canyon and Palm Canyon drives. Claudio Chavez was inside the upholstery shop where he works when the blast hit, shattering the windows of the store. 'I was just in my shop waiting for clients, and all of a sudden it felt like a big explosion,' he told the NY Times. 'It took out our window. I just saw a bunch of smoke.' Pictured: Windows are shattered above a parking garage area near Indian Canyon Drive and Tachevah in Palm Springs As thick plumes rose into the air, Chavez said people poured out of nearby homes and businesses to see what had happened. A logistics manager at the shop, he immediately began clearing debris and sweeping up shattered glass.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Yahoo
One person killed in explosion outside fertility clinic; police say act was ‘intentional'
An explosion that heavily damaged a fertility clinic in the upscale California city of Palm Springs appears to have been intentional, local authorities said. One person was found dead, and the FBI said it was sending investigators, including bomb technicians, to the scene. Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills said in a statement Saturday that the blast 'appears to be an intentional act of violence' and that several buildings damaged, some severely. 'There has been one fatality, the person's identity is not known,' Mills' statement said. The act was being investigated as a possible car explosion, said two law enforcement officials briefed on the matter who insisted on anonymity to discuss preliminary information from an ongoing investigation. One of the officials told AP that investigators believe the person who died is likely the person who set off the explosion, but cautioned the investigation is still in its early stages. Authorities have not disclosed a motive. FBI's Los Angeles field office said in a social media post on X that 'assets being deployed include investigators, bomb technicians & an evidence response team.' Investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were also assisting. Man dies after five-vehicle crash on I-75 The city of Palm Springs said Saturday that the explosion happened at 11 a.m. local time and that residents were being asked to avoid the area around North Indian Canyon Drive near East Tachevah Drive. Dr. Maher Abdallah, who runs the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic, confirmed that his clinic was damaged. He told The Associated Press in a phone interview that all of his staff were safe and accounted for. The explosion damaged the practice's office space, where it conducts consultations with patients, but left the IVF lab and all of the stored embryos there unharmed. 'I really have no clue what happened,' Abdallah said. 'Thank God today happened to be a day that we have no patients.' Aerial footage showed a burned-out car in a parking lot behind the building that housed the fertility clinic's office space. The blast caved in the building's roof and blew a wide debris field across a sidewalk and four lanes of the street on the other side of the structure. Rhino Williams, 47, was chatting with customers at a restaurant he helps manage inside the Skylark Hotel just over a block away from the scene when he heard a huge boom. Everything rattled, he said, and Williams — who has a background in aviation — immediately sprinted to the scene to see if anyone was in need of help, thinking a helicopter might have crashed. Williams saw a large dark gray plume of smoke and covered his nose with his shirt as he smelled burning plastic and rubber. He said he saw a building had 'blown out' into the street, with bricks and debris scattered everywhere, and spotted a car's front axle on fire in the building's parking lot. He said it was the only car in the lot that he saw. He ran into the building, calling out and peering behind the counter to see if anyone was inside. He did not hear a response and did not see anyone behind the counter. 10-year-old found hours away with man she met on Roblox: court docs Williams said he ran around to check on other nearby buildings. Multiple windows of the neighboring liquor store were also blown out, he said. Once he saw authorities arrive, he headed back to the hotel. Nima Tabrizi, 37, of Santa Monica, said he was inside a cannabis dispensary nearby when he felt a massive explosion. 'The building just shook, and we go outside and there's massive cloud smoke,' Tabrizi said. 'Crazy explosion. It felt like a bomb went off. … We went up to the scene, and we saw human remains.' Palm Springs is about a two-hour drive east of Los Angeles. Its known for upscale resorts, golf courses and a history of celebrity residents. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
18-05-2025
- CBS News
Explosion outside Palm Springs fertility clinic "an intentional act of terrorism," FBI says
At least one person was killed in an explosion Saturday morning near a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, authorities said. A law enforcement official told CBS News that along with the one person killed, at least five others were injured. Palm Springs city officials said in a Facebook post that the blast occurred just before 11 a.m. local time at North Indian Canyon Drive, near East Tachevah Drive, a stretch that has several healthcare facilities. This image provided by Nima Tabrizi shows firefighters at the scene of an explosion in Palm Springs, California, on May 17, 2025. Nima Tabrizi via AP In a statement, Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills disclosed that one person was killed in a vehicle explosion that appeared to be an intentional act of violence. The victim has not yet been identified, Mills said. "Terrorism came knocking on the door of Palm Springs," Chief Mills said of the incident. Mills said that the blast field extended several blocks and severely damaged some nearby buildings. The police chief added that the explosion originated at 1199 N. Indian Canyon Dr., the address listed for the local IVF clinic, American Reproductive Centers. "Make no mistake, this is an intentional act of terrorism," said Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of FBI's Los Angeles division, during a press conference. On its Facebook page, American Reproductive Centers wrote that a "vehicle exploded in the parking lot near our building." The clinic said several people were injured in the explosion, but officials have not confirmed that. It added that no clinic employees were injured in the blast. "Our lab—including all eggs, embryos, and reproductive materials—remains fully secure and undamaged," the clinic also wrote. Due to the wide debris field from the explosion, which occurred within a 250 foot radius according to the FBI, officials asked residents to leave anything they believed to be debris alone and contact them for further investigation. CBS News has learned the Center for Reproductive Services and the American Coalition for Telemedicine did not hear about any threats to their facilities or the organizations they work with across the country. In separate emails sent to CBS News, the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said they are sending agents to help with the investigation. "The FBI is responding with our partners with investigators, bomb techs and ERT," an FBI spokesperson said. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on social media that she had been "briefed on the explosion at a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California that took place today. Federal agents are on the ground now responding alongside local law enforcement." She added: "We are working to learn more, but let me be clear: the Trump administration understands that women and mothers are the heartbeat of America. Violence against a fertility clinic is unforgivable." California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office issued a statement saying that he had been "briefed on the explosion at a health facility in Palm Springs." "I've been briefed on the explosion near a fertility clinic in Palm Springs," Newsom wrote on X. "Jen and I are keeping everyone affected in our hearts. The state is working closely with local and federal authorities as the investigation unfolds. Please avoid the area." Matthew Rodriguez Matthew Rodriguez is a digital producer for CBS Los Angeles. He's previously reported for local outlets like the Argonaut and Pasadena Weekly. Matt typically covers breaking news and crime. contributed to this report.
