The suspect behind a terror attack at a California fertility clinic was a 25-year-old “pro-mortalist” who was against people being born without their consent, according to reports.

The FBI identified the suspect behind the car explosion in Palm Springs as Guy Edward Bartkus, who officers said was attempting to livestream the attack and had expressed “nihilistic ideations” in a manifesto.

Officers said Bartkus was the only person killed in the “intentional act of terrorism”, in which a car was detonated outside a clinic operated by American Reproductive Centers shortly before 11am local time on Saturday.

Mr Bartkus is said to have stated in writings and recordings that he was “against bringing people into the world against their will”, law enforcement sources told CBS News.

His writings are said to have communicated a belief that the world should not be populated.

Nihilistic ideations

“We are fairly confident that Mr Bartkus is our primary suspect,” Akil Davis, the assistant director at the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, said in a press conference on Sunday.

He added: “The subject had nihilistic ideations, and this was a targeted attack against the IVF facility. Make no mistake. We are treating this... as an intentional act of terrorism.”