False bomb threat triggers fear for those impacted by fertility clinic explosion
Luis Avila
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A false bomb threat in downtown Palm Springs on Sunday triggered evacuations and street closures, stirring worrisome memories for local business owners still recovering from a car bombing outside a fertility clinic just four months ago.
While no device was ultimately found, the emotional toll was very real for those who lived through the May explosion.
“Right away you get anxiety, wondering like what’s happening — is it true, how large is the bomb, how many people are involved, what location, how many people is it going to affect — you just don’t know. You go through all those emotions.”
David Rios, The Velvet Rope Hotel Owner
Though the threat turned out to be unfounded, the psychological scars from May’s explosion remain. Business owners are still grappling with its aftermath—both emotionally and financially.
“Unfortunately, we had four days of rain. We didn’t have enough financial funds to fix the roof so we just got done last week fixing all the rooms again, fixing the ceilings to get those repaired.”
David Rios, The Velvet Rope Hotel Owner
The city has largely moved forward, but for those directly affected, Sunday’s scare was a harsh reminder of how fragile their sense of safety can be.
“I do feel safe but I don’t think I would be that excited to go to an event that had large crowds. It’s made me think differently… If something like this is happening in Palm Springs, a small city, a safe city, I feel like it can happen anywhere.”
Jill Regan, The Shops at Thirteen Forty Five Business Owner
Stay with News Channel 3 for more.