This month, a Chinese brother and sister are suspected of placing explosive devices at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida and have been indicted as a result. Following the incident, the brother is currently on the run.
MacDill Air Force Base is the headquarters of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and the U.S. Special Operations Command. CENTCOM is responsible for U.S. military operations in parts of the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia. The Special Operations Command oversees all special operations forces subordinate to the war department.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) stated that 20-year-old Alen Zheng and 27-year-old Ann Mary Zheng were charged in separate federal indictments on Wednesday, March 25. Currently, the sister has been detained, while the brother responsible for placing the explosive devices has fled to China.
Alen Zheng is charged with attempting to damage government property, manufacturing illegal destructive devices, and possessing unregistered destructive devices. On March 16, the FBI Tampa Division announced the discovery of a suspicious package outside the MacDill visitor center, prompting an FBI investigation.
Ann Mary Zheng, on the other hand, is charged with witness tampering and being an accessory after the fact in Alen Zheng’s case. According to court documents, she is accused of concealing or damaging a 2010 Mercedes-Benz suspected of transporting bomb-making tools. It is currently unknown if the two have retained defense attorneys.
Since the start of the Iran War, MacDill has been one of the highly guarded U.S. bases. CENTCOM is currently leading the “Operation Epic Fury” targeting Iran.
Moreover, earlier this week, a man was arrested for making threatening phone calls to the base, just days after the exposure of the explosive devices. There is currently no evidence showing any connection between this individual and the Zheng siblings.
FBI Director Kash Patel posted on social media, “The Federal Bureau of Investigation will work hand in hand with partners to continue to pursue all those involved and ensure that they cannot escape justice no matter where they flee to.”
The indictments against the Zheng siblings were unsealed on Thursday morning, and a press conference is scheduled to be held on Thursday afternoon.