LOS ANGELES — One person is dead after a car exploded in Palm Springs, California, in what officials said was an “intentional act of violence.”
Five people were injured, two law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation told NBC News. The nature and seriousness of the injuries were not disclosed.
Several buildings were damaged, some severely, Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills said on Facebook, noting that the “blast field” stretched blocks.
“This was a powerful explosion,” a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation said.
The identity of the deceased person and their involvement in the explosion is not yet known. Mills said the incident appears to be isolated.
The blast occurred at 1199 North Indian Canyon Dr., Mills said, at around 11 a.m., according to the city. The street is home to a number of medical facilities, including Desert Regional Medical Center.
There is no information yet on a possible motive, including whether a nearby fertility clinic was targeted.
What appears to be the fertility clinic, American Reproductive Centers (ARC), said on Facebook that a car exploded in the parking lot near its building. No one who works at the center was harmed.
Mills urged residents to leave potential evidence in place and to call police on a nonemergency number to report it. The city of Palm Springs said residents should stay away from the area to allow emergency crews to do their work.
The lab at ARC, which houses all eggs, embryos and reproductive materials, was not damaged, the clinic said on social media.
“We are heavily conducting a complete safety inspection and have confirmed that our operations and sensitive medical areas were not impacted by the blast,” ARC said.
The clinic said it will be “fully operational” Monday morning.
The FBI’s Los Angeles bureau said on X it is responding to the explosion, with investigators, bomb technicians and an evidence response team on scene. Mills said the Palm Springs Police Department is working closely with the FBI.
The Los Angeles office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is assisting in the investigation, the bureau said on X.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been briefed on the explosion, his office said.
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi has also been briefed on the incident, she said on X.
“We are working to learn more, but let me be clear: the Trump administration understands that women and mothers are the heartbeat of America,” Bondi said. “Violence against a fertility clinic is unforgivable.”
Videos posted to social media and verified by NBC News captured the force of the blast. Multiple businesses had their windows blown out and suffered other structural damage. Firefighters were seen in the videos dragging hoses into buildings.
Images on social media also showed clouds of smoke rising from the area, appearing to center around the health facility where the explosion occurred.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
