FB Tango Fwd (-)
Capitola, Barn Bureau 95010
California
17 May 2025
To: Editorial, TBA
Fm. Hayes, Field Report
Subj. Palm Springs --Intentional Act of Terrorism-- Car Bomb Forensics
Enclosure (1) herewith
1. Location and Incident Overview
a. On May 17, 2025, a bomb exploded near the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic at 1199 North Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, California, at approximately 11 a.m. local time.
(1) The blast resulted in one fatality and at least five injuries, with extensive damage to the clinic and surrounding buildings.
2. Investigative Teams and Command Structure
Agencies Involved
a. Palm Springs Police Department (PSPD):
(1) Leading the local response and investigation, with Chief Andy Mills confirming the intentional nature of the act and coordinating unified command at the scene.
(2) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI):
(i) The FBI’s Los Angeles division deployed:
Bomb technicians
Investigators
Evidence Response Team
Assistant Director in Charge, Akil Davis, was present and working closely with PSPD to determine investigative leadership.
(3)
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF):
(i) Provided additional bomb technicians and investigative support alongside the FBI.
Palm Springs Fire Department: Managed fire suppression, rescue, and initial scene safety, with Fire Chief Paul Alvarado involved in public communications.
3. Other Emergency Services:
a. Local firefighters and medical personnel responded to treat the injured and secure the area.
4. Organizational Structure and Coordination
Unified Command:
a. A joint command structure was established at the scene, with PSPD, FBI, and ATF coordinating efforts.
b. The agencies worked together to secure the blast area, collect evidence, and manage public safety.
5. Evidence Collection:
a. Residents were instructed to leave potential evidence in place for collection by investigators or officers, highlighting a coordinated evidence response protocol.
6. Public Communication:
a. The city of Palm Springs and law enforcement provided regular updates, with press conferences and social media posts to inform the public and request cooperation.
PART II NARRATIVE SUMMARY
1. Summary of Incident
a. On May 17, 2025, a car bomb exploded outside the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California.
(1) The explosion killed one person, injured at least five others, and caused severe damage to the clinic and several nearby buildings.
(2) The blast was felt up to two miles away, with a debris field spanning several blocks.
(3) Aerial images and eyewitness accounts describe a burned-out car, the clinic’s front blown across the street, and the roof caved in.
PART III. FORENSICS
1. Analysis and Estimate
Blast Effects and Damage
a. The explosion “obliterated” the front of the clinic, caved in the roof, and scattered debris across a wide area, including four lanes of the street and several blocks.
(1) The blast was strong enough to be felt two miles away.
Several buildings were “severely damaged,” not just the clinic.
(2) The vehicle was reportedly “blown perhaps maybe 30 ft away” from its original parking spot.
2. Comparative Historical Context
a. Car bombs that cause severe structural damage to buildings and are felt at a distance of 1–2 miles typically involve a significant quantity of high explosives.
(1) For reference, the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing used about 4,800 pounds (2,200 kg) of ammonium nitrate/fuel oil (ANFO), destroying a federal building and damaging structures several blocks away.
(2) Smaller car bombs (100–500 pounds of TNT equivalent) can destroy cars, kill people nearby, and break windows in adjacent buildings, but rarely cause severe multi-block damage or roof collapse.
3. Estimate Based on Available Evidence
Given:
a. The severe damage to the clinic (roof collapse, front blown across the street).
(1) Multiple nearby buildings damaged “severely.”
(2) The blast felt up to two miles away.
The debris field extending across a wide area.
The car being thrown ~30 feet.
b. A reasonable estimate is that the bomb contained between 500 and 1,000 pounds (approximately 225–450 kg) of high explosives (TNT equivalent or similar).
(1)
This is significantly larger than a typical “small” car bomb but much less than the Oklahoma City bombing.
(2) The described effects are consistent with a mid-sized vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) in this range.
4. Caveats:
a. This estimate is based on news reports, eyewitness accounts, and known effects of similar historical incidents.
(1) Official forensic analysis may revise this estimate once residue and blast pattern analysis are completed.
5. Conclusion
a. Based on the scale of destruction, blast radius, and comparative historical incidents, the car bomb that exploded outside the American Reproductive Centers in Palm Springs on May 17, 2025, likely contained between 500 and 1,000 pounds of high explosives.
b. Official figures may be released after the ongoing investigation and forensic analysis.
PART IV. CIVIL AFFAIRS
1. Press Headlines
a. CBS News: "Explosion near Palm Springs fertility clinic leaves 1 dead, several injured; FBI, ATF investigating" -
(1) The report highlights the intentional nature of the act, with authorities calling it an act of terrorism and noting the FBI and ATF are leading the investigation.
b. NBC News: "One known dead in Palm Springs car blast that police say was 'intentional act of violence'" -
(1) The article emphasizes the severity of the blast, the ongoing investigation, and the deployment of federal agencies.
c. Los Angeles Times: "One dead after suspected bomb blast near reproductive health clinic in Palm Springs" -
(1) The LA Times details the damage to the American Reproductive Centers and the scale of the explosion, which was felt miles away.
d. KESQ (Local News): "LIVE COVERAGE: One person dead after suspected bomb explodes in Palm Springs" -
(1) KESQ provides live updates, confirming the FBI's involvement and statements from local officials about the intentional nature of the act.
The Palm Springs Post: "One dead, four injured after explosion outside reproductive center in Downtown Palm Springs; police say it appears to be an ‘intentional act of violence’" - The headline focuses on the casualties and the ongoing investigation into whether the incident is terrorism.
2. Social Media Reaction
Videos and Images:
a. Social media users posted videos showing the intensity of the explosion, including plumes of smoke, shattered windows, and emergency responders at the scene.
b. Official Statements on X (formerly Twitter):
(1) The FBI’s Los Angeles division posted updates about their response, confirming the deployment of bomb squad and evidence teams.
c. Community Response:
(1) Palm Springs city officials used Facebook to inform residents about the incident, safety measures, and to urge the public to leave any potential evidence untouched and report it to authorities.
3. Eyewitness Accounts:
a. Witnesses shared graphic details and images, with some describing the aftermath as “terrorism came knocking on the door of Palm Springs”.
4. Hashtag Response
a. While specific trending hashtags are not directly cited in the search results, it is common in such incidents for hashtags like:
(1) #PalmSpringsExplosion
#PalmSprings
#AmericanReproductiveCenters
#PrayForPalmSprings
#StopTheViolence
to trend as the public, officials, and media react to the event.
(2) These hashtags typically facilitate information sharing, community support, and calls for resilience or justice in the wake of violent incidents.
5. Summary
a. The press has uniformly described the Palm Springs car bomb as an intentional act of violence, with federal agencies treating it as a possible terrorist incident.
b. Social media is actively circulating videos, eyewitness accounts, and official updates, while hashtags related to the explosion and Palm Springs are likely trending as the story develops.
PART V. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
1. Key Supporting Details from Official Sources
a. Palm Springs Mayor Ron DeHarte and Police Chief Andy Mills confirmed the explosion was caused by a bomb in or near a vehicle and characterized the act as intentional.
FBI Assistant Director Akil Davis referred to the event as an "intentional act of terrorism" and stated that a person of interest has been identified, though details remain confidential during the ongoing investigation.
b. The American Reproductive Centers' office space was heavily damaged, but the IVF lab and stored embryos were unharmed.
c. Emergency services, including bomb technicians and evidence response teams from the FBI and ATF, responded to the scene.
2. Eyewitness and Media Accounts
a. Residents reported hearing a loud explosion and seeing smoke, with some describing body parts and car debris scattered near the site.
b. Aerial and ground images showed a burned-out car behind the building and significant structural damage to the clinic and surrounding businesses.
c. The explosion was felt up to two miles away, and authorities closed off the area to ensure public safety.
Current Status
d. The investigation is ongoing, with no motive publicly disclosed as of the latest updates.
Authorities have urged residents to avoid the area and to report any potential evidence without disturbing it.
3. References to Supporting Documents
Official statements and updates from Palm Springs city officials, the FBI, and law enforcement.
a. Media coverage from Reuters, PBS, KESQ, CBS News, USA Today, NBC News, and the Los Angeles Times, providing eyewitness accounts, photographs, and further context.
b. These documents collectively confirm the details of the car bomb explosion in Palm Springs on May 17, 2025, the law enforcement response, and the ongoing investigation.
4. Synthetic Intelligence Queries. Perplexity AI
5. Image. https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/person-hand-with-magnifying-glass-and-crime-scene-tape-gm470206442-62053696
6. Report credit. Hayes, FB Tango, Capitola Barn, 95010
End of Report
UNCLASSIFIED
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