Siblings Face Federal Charges Over Explosive Device at Florida Military Base
A brother and sister have been indicted on federal charges following the discovery of an explosive device outside a gate at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, earlier this month. The incident has heightened security concerns at the base, which houses the U.S. Central Command.
Charges and Flight to China
Alen Zheng, aged 20, and his sister Ann Mary Zheng, aged 27, were charged in separate federal indictments on Wednesday. According to a social media post by FBI director Kash Patel, Ann Mary Zheng is currently in custody, while her brother Alen Zheng has fled the country and is believed to be in China.
Alen Zheng faces serious charges including attempting to damage government property, unlawfully manufacturing a destructive device, and possessing an unregistered destructive device. The indictment specifically references the suspicious package found at MacDill Air Force Base.
Ann Mary Zheng is charged with witness tampering and acting as an accessory after the fact in her brother's case. Online court records do not list attorneys for either defendant at this time.
Discovery and Investigation
The suspicious package was discovered outside MacDill Air Force Base on March 16, prompting an immediate investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The U.S. Central Command, which is headquartered at MacDill, oversees American military operations across the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of South Asia.
MacDill has been on heightened alert since the outbreak of the war in Iran, making this security breach particularly concerning for military officials. The base's strategic importance adds significant gravity to the incident and subsequent charges.
Additional Arrest and Security Context
In a related development, another man was arrested earlier this week on charges of making threatening phone calls to the base days after the explosive device was discovered. However, investigators have not connected this individual to the planting of any devices, and there appears to be no immediate link between the caller and the Zheng siblings.
The case continues to develop as authorities work to determine the full scope of the threat and any potential connections to broader security concerns. The FBI's investigation remains active, with particular focus on the whereabouts of Alen Zheng and any possible accomplices.
