Latest news with #RonDeHarte
The Independent
17-05-2025
- The Independent
Police and FBI investigating possible ‘terrorism' after bombing outside fertility clinic in Palm Springs leaves one dead and five injured
An explosion outside a California fertility clinic that left one dead and several injured was caused by a bomb, the mayor of Palm Springs has said. Palm Springs Police spokesperson Mike Villegas called it an 'intentional act of violence,' according to The Desert Sun. Police are investigating whether the attack was an act of 'terrorism.' Firefighters in the city responded to the explosion at the American Reproductive Center that left at least one person dead and five people injured. The person who died is believed to be a suspect, law enforcement sources told ABC News. Mayor Ron DeHarte told The Los Angeles Times in a text that he could 'confirm it was a bomb in or near a vehicle parked at the building. One deceased.' Later, he told CNN that there was no indication yet on the identity or the motive of the bomber: 'We don't have the why or who yet, and that's all to come. Certainly, our teams are on top of that. Time will get us those details.' However, he said authorities do not believe there is any further danger to the community. A briefing was expected later on Saturday. Describing the location of the explosion, DeHarte told the network, 'It's in the Uptown Design District of Palm Springs. [The clinic is] right across the street from Desert Regional Medical Center. It's not part of the Medical Center campus, but it's on Indian Canyon, which is just one block east of Palm Canyon Drive that everybody is familiar with when they come to Palm Springs.' Speaking to the Palm Springs Post, Lt. William Hutchinson with the Palm Springs Police Department confirmed that a car was responsible for the explosion. The department also confirmed that one person has been killed. 'Everything is in question, whether this is an act of terrorism,' Hutchinson told The Desert Sun. A witness told the Post that he saw human remains in the street. 'In front of the building [the car] was blown clear across four lanes into the parking lot of [Desert Regional Medical Center],' the witness said. 'I could see the back of the car still on fire and the rims. That was the only thing that distinguishes it as a car.' U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli has confirmed that the FBI is investigating the incident to determine whether it was intentional. According to spokesperson Nicole Lozano, investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives are also working to assess what happened. American Reproductive Centers, a fertility clinic and IVF lab, is located at 1199 N Indian Canyon Drive, across the street from the Desert Regional Medical Center. A hospital spokesperson has confirmed that the explosion did not take place in the medical center. It is the only clinic of its kind in the Coachella Valley. Authorities have warned the public to avoid the area. Palm Springs resident Tamara Cash told The Desert Sun the explosion 'was so loud it shook me. All I could hear was alarms going off in different buildings.' Dr. Maher Abdallah, who runs the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic where the explosion occurred, 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.' 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.' Pam Bondi, the U.S. attorney general, tweeted: 'I have 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. '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.' While there have been attacks on abortion clinics and people who work at them for many years, attacks on fertility clinics like the one in Palm Springs have been rarer. Palm Springs is a city of roughly 45,000 people about a hundred miles east of Los Angeles, and has often been used as a vacation spot for the rich and famous. The resort city is situated in the Coachella Valley within the Colorado Desert. The city's population triples between November and March as it has become a prominent retirement and snowbird destination. Most of the snowbirds have been Canadians, but some have started boycotting the city amid President Donald Trump 's harsh policies and aggressive rhetoric against the US's neighbor to the north.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
One person killed in possible terror attack at fertility clinic
One person has been killed after an explosion at a fertility clinic in California. Authorities are investigating a possible terrorist plot after a blast ripped through the American Reproductive Services building in Palm Springs shortly before 11am local time on Saturday. Images of the scene show shattered glass and debris strewn across the street outside of the clinic. Black smoke can be seen rising from the building while firefighters battle to put out the flames. The explosion left one person dead, the mayor said, without confirming the name of the victim. The blast is thought to have come from a car parked outside the fertility clinic and IVF lab on North Indian Canyon Drive. The make and model of the vehicle is unknown, and all that was left of it at the scene was an axel, according to reports. 'We've got a vehicle that appears to have exploded,' Lt William Hutchinson of the Palm Springs Police Department said. 'It appears that we have a deceased person…Everything's in question whether this is an act of terrorism, or what it is.' The FBI released a statement saying it was responding to the incident by deploying investigators and bomb technicians. Ron DeHarte, the Palm Springs mayor, said he believed one person had been killed in the explosion. 'We're still trying to determine a cause,' the mayor told The New York Post. 'The police and fire [services] are down there right now. First, we heard it might be a helicopter crash or a gas leak but that's been ruled out. We should know pretty quickly what it was. There was quite a bit of damage to surrounding buildings as well.' A witness said the explosion felt like 'a bomb went off'. 'It definitely felt like an explosion. It was so loud it felt like it shook my entire core,' Claudio Chavez, who owns an upholstery shop nearby, told the newspaper. 'I was inside my business waiting for a client. I was sitting in my chair and it was like suddenly like a bomb went off. Inside I just saw pieces of debris fall from the ceiling. Walked outside and saw my front window had totally shattered. 'I went to Palm Canyon Drive and went behind and off Indian Canyon you could see more people and a large amount of smoke. Half of one building seemed to have been blown off.' The clinic's website listed fertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization and egg freezing, among its services. Dr Maher Abdallah, who runs the clinic, told The Associated Press that the clinic's office was damaged, but the IVF lab and stored embryos were not. 'I really have no clue what happened,' Dr. Abdallah said. 'Thank God today happened to be a day that we have no patients.' Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, has been briefed on the explosion, his press office said. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
RNZ News
17-05-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Bomb explodes near California reproductive health clinic, killing one
By Jasper Ward and Timothy Gardner , Reuters The FBI logo seen on the J Edgar Hoover FBI building in Washington, DC. Photo: ANNA MONEYMAKER / AFP A bomb exploded near a reproductive health facility in Palm Springs, California, killing one person, the city's mayor said on Saturday. The bomb was either in or near a car parked outside of the clinic when it exploded, Mayor Ron deHarte said. Palm Springs Fire Chief Paul Alvarado said no suspect had been identified. Authorities have not commented on a possible motive and deHarte said he could not confirm if the person who died is a suspect. "It does appear to be an intentional act of violence," he said. ABC News, citing law enforcement sources and the facility, which was operated by American Reproductive Centers, said at least five people were injured in the explosion. Palm Springs is about 161km east of Los Angeles. The Palm Springs city government said in a Facebook post that an explosion occurred before 11am. While the clinic was damaged, the staff was safe, the Associated Press reported, citing Dr Maher Abdallah, who runs the facility. A photo posted online by broadcaster KTLA in Los Angeles showed the single-story building that houses the clinic after the explosion. The bomb appeared to have ripped a gaping hole in one of its walls, leaving a pile of mangled debris spilling into the street. Alvarado said several buildings in the area were damaged, some extensively. The FBI in Los Angeles said in a social media post that it was investigating the explosion, with bomb technicians deployed to the scene. California Governor Gavin Newsom has been briefed on the explosion, his office said. American Reproductive Centers, which has offices in at least three California cities, provides services including in vitro fertilization, genetic testing and in-house egg donation. - Reuters
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
One person dead after explosion outside fertility clinic in California
One person has died in a bomb explosion near a reproductive health clinic in California, authorities have said. The incident took place in Palm Springs, a city two hours east of Los Angeles, and is being investigated as a possible car explosion. The city's mayor Ron DeHarte said one person died in the blast, adding that the bomb was "either in or near" a vehicle. The deceased's identity is not known, Palm Springs police said. Dr Maher Abdallah, who runs the American Reproductive Centers clinic, told the Associated Press his facility was damaged but all staff were safe and accounted for. The explosion damaged the office space where the practice conducts patient consultations, but the IVF lab and stored embryos were unharmed, he added. "I really have no clue what happened," he said. "Thank God today happened to be a day that we have no patients." In a statement posted on Facebook the clinic said it was "heartbroken" to learn someone died in the explosion and added: "Our deepest condolences go out to the individuals and families affected." It continued: "Our mission has always been to help build families, and in times like these, we are reminded of just how fragile and precious life is. "In the face of this tragedy, we remain committed to creating hope - because we believe that healing begins with community, compassion, and care. The clinic will be fully operational on Monday, it added. "This moment has shaken us - but it has not stopped us. We will continue to serve with strength, love, and the hope that brings new life into the world," the statement concluded. The Palm Springs city government said in a post on Facebook that the explosion happened on North Indian Canyon Drive, near East Tachevah Drive, before 11am local time (6pm GMT). A burned-out car can be seen in a parking lot behind the building in aerial footage. The blast caved in the clinic's roof and blew debris across four lanes of the road. Another person said he was inside a cannabis dispensary nearby when he felt a massive explosion. Nima Tabrizi said: "The building just shook, and we go outside and there's massive cloud smoke." Investigators from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are travelling to the scene to help assess what happened. governor Gavin Newsom has been briefed on the explosion, his press office said.
Telegraph
17-05-2025
- Telegraph
One person killed in possible terror attack at fertility clinic
One person has been killed after an explosion at a fertility clinic in California. Authorities are investigating a possible terrorist plot after a blast ripped through the American Reproductive Services building in Palm Springs shortly before 11am local time on Saturday. Images of the scene show shattered glass and debris strewn across the street outside of the clinic. Black smoke can be seen rising from the building while firefighters battle to put out the flames. The explosion left one person dead, the mayor said, without confirming the name of the victim. The blast is thought to have come from a car parked outside the fertility clinic and IVF lab on North Indian Canyon Drive. The make and model of the vehicle is unknown, and all that was left of it at the scene was an axel, according to reports. 'We've got a vehicle that appears to have exploded,' Lt William Hutchinson of the Palm Springs Police Department said. 'It appears that we have a deceased person…Everything's in question whether this is an act of terrorism, or what it is.' The FBI released a statement saying it was responding to the incident by deploying investigators and bomb technicians. Ron DeHarte, the Palm Springs mayor, said he believed one person had been killed in the explosion. 'We're still trying to determine a cause,' the mayor told The New York Post. 'The police and fire [services] are down there right now. First, we heard it might be a helicopter crash or a gas leak but that's been ruled out. We should know pretty quickly what it was. There was quite a bit of damage to surrounding buildings as well.' A witness said the explosion felt like 'a bomb went off'. 'It definitely felt like an explosion. It was so loud it felt like it shook my entire core,' Claudio Chavez, who owns an upholstery shop nearby, told the newspaper. 'I was inside my business waiting for a client. I was sitting in my chair and it was like suddenly like a bomb went off. Inside I just saw pieces of debris fall from the ceiling. Walked outside and saw my front window had totally shattered. 'I went to Palm Canyon Drive and went behind and off Indian Canyon you could see more people and a large amount of smoke. Half of one building seemed to have been blown off.' The clinic's website listed fertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization and egg freezing, among its services. Dr Maher Abdallah, who runs the clinic, told The Associated Press that the clinic's office was damaged, but the IVF lab and stored embryos were not. 'I really have no clue what happened,' Dr. Abdallah said. 'Thank God today happened to be a day that we have no patients.'
