Man arrested in New York linked to California fertility clinic explosion: officials
Share this @internewscast.com


NEW YORK (AP) The FBI has arrested a man on charges linked to last month’s car bombing of a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, three law enforcement officials said Wednesday.

The man, Daniel Park, a 32-year-old resident of Kent, Washington, was arrested Tuesday night at the John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, one of the officials said. It was not immediately clear what Park was charged with or how he was connected to the investigation. Authorities believe the bomber died in the blast.

Federal prosecutors are expected to release details at a news conference in Los Angeles. The arrest was first reported by NBC News. The law enforcement officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss a criminal case that has not been publicly disclosed.

The attack on the fertility clinic was carried out by Guy Edward Bartkus, who was also killed in the explosion, according to the FBI. Officials said at the time they were investigating whether Bartkus had any help.

Authorities have described Bartkus as a member of the anti-natalist movement, a fringe group that opposes childbirth and population growth and believes people should not continue to procreate. Officials said he intentionally targeted the fertility clinic as an act of terrorism. He tried to livestream the explosion, but the attempt failed, the FBI says.

The blast gutted the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic in Palms Springs and shattered the windows of nearby buildings along a palm tree-lined street. Witnesses described a loud boom followed by a chaotic scene, with people screaming in terror and glass strewn along the sidewalk and street. A body was found near a charred vehicle outside the clinic.

Investigators haven’t said if he intended to kill himself in the attack or why he chose the specific facility. The clinic he attacked provides services to help people get pregnant, including in vitro fertilization and fertility evaluations.

Authorities executed a search warrant in Bartkus’ hometown of Twentynine Palms, a city of 28,000 residents northeast of Palm Springs with a large U.S. Marine Corps base. Authorities haven’t shared specifics about the explosives used to make the bomb and where Bartkus may have obtained them.

A senior FBI official called the explosion possibly the “largest bombing scene that we’ve had in Southern California.”

Scott Sweetow, a retired ATF explosives expert, said the amount of damage caused indicated that the suspect used a “high explosive” similar to dynamite and TNT rather than a “low explosive” like gun powder.

Those types of explosives are normally difficult for civilians to access, but increasingly people are finding ways to concoct explosives at home, he said.

“Once you know the chemistry involved, it’s pretty easy to get stuff,” Sweetow said. “The ingredients you could get at a grocery store.”

The images of the aftermath also showed that the explosion appeared to blow from the street straight through the building and to the parking lot on the other side, something that could have been intentional or pure luck, Sweetow said. A part of the car was also blown through the building and landed in the back by a dumpster.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Help BTPD Solve Double Homicide: Public Assistance Needed for Crucial Case Information

The Bristol Tennessee Police Department (BTPD) remains deep in the investigation of…

New Zealand Man Allegedly Swallows Faberge Pendant in Bond-Inspired Heist: Police Await Evidence

WELLINGTON – Authorities in New Zealand are adopting a wait-and-see approach after…

Macron’s Strategic China Visit: Strengthening Trade Links and Navigating Ukraine Conflict with Xi Jinping

PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron is set to embark on a…

Prospects for Health Care Subsidy Renewal Diminish, Potentially Leading to Increased Premiums for Millions

WASHINGTON — Prospects for extending health care subsidies are fading in Congress…

Hegseth Justifies Controversial Follow-Up Strike on Suspected Drug Vessel Amid ‘Fog of War’ Debate

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White…

Greene County Standoff Suspect Held on $700,000 Bond

GREENE COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — A courtroom appearance took place on Monday…

Unraveling the Mystery: Authorities Probe Deliberate Fiber Optic Cable Sabotage in Scott County

The Scott County Sheriff’s Office in Gate City, Virginia, is reaching out…

Weather Fronts Signal Shifting Conditions in Central Florida: Your Detailed Forecast

ORLANDO, Fla. – Central Florida is set to experience a cooler Wednesday,…

Trump Proposes Rollback of Vehicle Mileage Standards to Ease Air Pollution Regulations

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump is poised to unveil a new initiative…

Intensifying Hunt: Two Weeks and Counting in the Search for Missing Union Coach

Authorities at both the state and federal levels remain in pursuit of…

San Francisco Takes Legal Action Against Leading Food Giants Over Health Risks of Ultra-Processed Foods

On Tuesday, the city of San Francisco initiated legal action against several…

Europeans Claim Putin’s Peace Talks with US Envoys Are Just a Charade

KYIV – Following extensive discussions lasting five hours in the Kremlin with…