FBI: California fertility center bombing an act of terrorism.

FBI: California fertility clinic bombing an act of terrorism

 One person killed in California. FBI: California fertility center bombing was an act of terrorism

An FBI official declared early Sunday that the California fertility clinic bombing was an "act of terrorism."

The FBI said Saturday that the bombing of an assisted reproductive technology clinic in California was a terrorist attack, suggesting the facility was likely deliberately targeted.

Akeel Davis, head of the FBI's Los Angeles office, explained during a press conference: "It was a deliberate act of terrorism. As our investigation progresses, we will determine whether it was international or domestic terrorism."

When asked whether the clinic in Palm Springs was deliberately targeted, the official said: "We believe so, yes." An explosive device exploded outside an assisted reproductive technology clinic in Palm Springs, California, on Saturday, the mayor said, killing one person.

The Los Angeles Times quoted Mayor Ron DeHart as saying that "a device inside or near a vehicle parked on the premises" caused the explosion at 11:00 a.m. (18:00 GMT). Citing the Associated Press, US authorities said that California police and fire officials responded to the scene after the explosion, which damaged businesses in Palm Springs.

Palm Springs authorities said in a social media post on Saturday that they had asked residents to avoid the area. Nima Tabrizi, 37, a resident of Santa Monica, said she was inside a public pharmacy when she felt a huge explosion.

She added: "The building shook, and we went outside, and there was a huge cloud of smoke." It was a strange explosion. It felt like a bomb had exploded... We went to the scene and saw human remains," city spokeswoman Nicole Lozano said.

Investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives responded to the scene to help assess what had happened.

Dr. Maher Abdallah, who runs the fertility clinic where the explosion occurred, confirmed that all clinic staff were safe and accounted for. The explosion destroyed the clinic's office, where patient consultations are conducted, but did not damage the in vitro fertilization lab or any of the embryos on file.

Abdallah added, "I have no idea what happened. Thank God we are not receiving patients today." Palm Springs is a trendy desert area about a two-hour drive west of Los Angeles, known for its luxury resorts and celebrity accommodations.