Federal authorities announced on Wednesday the arrest of Daniel Jongyon Park, a 32-year-old man from Washington state, who is accused of supplying the chemicals used in a bombing that targeted a California fertility clinic in May.
Park was arrested on Tuesday night at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York after returning from Poland.
Details of the Alleged Plot
Authorities claim that Park shipped 180 pounds of ammonium nitrate to Guy Bartkus, who is believed to have carried out the bombing at the American Reproductive Centers in Palm Springs, California.
According to US Attorney Bill Essayli, Park also ordered an additional 90 pounds of ammonium nitrate, which was sent to Bartkus separately just days before the attack.
The fertility clinic bombing occurred on May 17, when Bartkus drove a car packed with explosives to the facility, detonating the bomb and killing himself.
Several people were injured in the attack, and the building was destroyed, along with other nearby structures. First responders were able to secure the embryos in the clinic and restore power to the incubators, preventing further loss.
Federal Charges and Arrest Details
Park faces charges of providing and attempting to provide material support to a terrorist, as stated in a news release from the US Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles. He made his first court appearance on Wednesday in Brooklyn, New York, and if convicted, he could face up to 15 years in federal prison.
During a news conference, Attorney General Pamela Bondi condemned the bombing as a “particularly cruel, disgusting crime”, noting the attack targeted a facility that helps women and mothers. US Attorney Bill Essayli labeled the bombing a terrorist attack and vowed that those who assist terrorists will face justice.
Ammonium Nitrate and Explosive Ingredients
Ammonium nitrate is a commonly used precursor chemical in homemade explosives. The FBI also reported that Park was in possession of an explosive recipe similar to the one used in the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, which killed 168 people.
The FBI confirmed that Park and Bartkus had been experimenting with chemicals in Bartkus’ detached garage in Twentynine Palms, California, in early 2025, and large quantities of chemicals were recovered from the site after the bombing.
Connection Between Park and Bartkus
The FBI revealed that Park and Bartkus shared similar ideologies, particularly related to their anti-pro-life views. Authorities believe that both men targeted the fertility clinic due to their opposition to the creation of new life.
Assistant Director Akil Davis of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office noted that Park had been attempting to recruit like-minded individuals by posting on internet forums since 2016.
Park’s Travel to Poland
Park’s travel history adds another layer of intrigue to the case. Federal authorities confirmed that Park flew to Poland just four days after the bombing on May 21. He was detained by Polish authorities on May 30 and deported back to the U.S., where he was arrested on Tuesday.
The exact reason for his travel to Poland remains unclear, but authorities are investigating whether he had further plans related to the bombing or was attempting to evade arrest.
Ongoing Investigation
The FBI and other federal agencies are continuing to investigate the case, with officials emphasizing the importance of understanding the ideology behind the attack and determining whether others may have assisted in the plot.
FBI Director Kash Patel urged that the investigation would be comprehensive, stating, “We want to learn everything about the ideology involved in this. We need to learn everything we can on anyone that assisted this.”