The Anatomy of a Blast: What the Fertility Clinic Bombing May Reveal About the Attacker and His Weapon

The Jack Hopkins Now Newsletter #331

In the aftermath of the devastating bombing in Palm Springs, California that targeted a fertility clinic just days ago…investigators are combing through the rubble for answers—but some elements of this crime already speak volumes.

The sheer force of the blast…reportedly affecting an area the size of two football fields, provides a grim and chilling clue: this was no makeshift or impulsive attack.

It was deliberate, calculated, and likely executed by someone with both the technical knowledge and the materials to carry out large-scale destruction.

While much remains unknown as authorities continue their forensic analysis, history, science, and precedent allow us to reasonably anticipate the type of explosive used… the skills required to build and deploy it…and the psychological profile of someone capable of engineering such a catastrophic event.

This is not just a preview of what the evidence may confirm—it’s a warning of what kind of ideology, expertise, and escalation we may be confronting.

An Explosion of This Scale Doesn’t Happen by Accident

When we hear that a blast covered a radius of two football fields—roughly 200 to 240 yards—we are not talking about a pipe bomb…firecracker…or rudimentary explosive hidden in a backpack.

This was a high-yield, precision-placed explosive device…likely built with materials that require specialized handling…and knowledge far beyond that of the average individual.

In law enforcement terminology, this likely qualifies as a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED)—a bomb delivered by vehicle and powerful enough to destroy or severely damage structural buildings…kill bystanders, and send debris flying hundreds of feet in all directions.

The most comparable case in American history is the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, in which Timothy McVeigh used a rental truck packed with a combination of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil (ANFO).

That blast killed 168 people and injured hundreds more. The shock wave from that detonation was felt blocks away.

McVeigh wasn’t simply wanting to “scare” people. He was hell-bent on death and destruction, and was successful.

The terrorist in Palm Springs in recent days…was also determined to cause destruction of the clinic…and anything inside that would aid in the creation of new life. He didn’t use firecrackers.

The initial reports from the fertility clinic bombing suggest that we may be looking at a similarly devastating formula—one that can be built by a determined individual with the right knowledge and access to materials.

While final conclusions will come from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI’s explosives unit…here are the most likely types of bombs that could produce such a blast:

What Kind of Bomb Was Likely Used?

ANFO Bomb (Ammonium Nitrate + Fuel Oil)

This is the most probable candidate due to its accessibility…affordability…and destructive capacity.

ANFO is widely used in mining and construction but has become infamous in domestic terrorism due to its relative ease of preparation.

• Ingredients: Ammonium nitrate (commonly used in fertilizer) and fuel oil (like diesel).

• Power: When confined and detonated properly…ANFO can produce a blast force equivalent to hundreds or even thousands of pounds of TNT. Need I say more?

• Precedent: Used in Oklahoma City, and in various attempted attacks in the U.S. and abroad.

Urea Nitrate or Homemade Peroxide-Based Explosives (e.g., TATP)

Though less stable and more dangerous to handle…TATP (triacetone triperoxide) or urea nitrate explosives have been used in international terror attacks.