A brother and sister have been charged in connection with an improvised explosive device (IED) found outside MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, federal authorities announced Thursday. Alen Zheng, 20, is accused of planting the device and has fled to China, while his sister, Ann Mary Zheng, 27, is in custody for accessory after the fact and evidence tampering.
The FBI confirmed the charges, stating that Alen Zheng faces multiple counts, including attempted destruction of government property, unlawful making of a destructive device, and possession of an unregistered destructive device. Ann Mary Zheng is charged with tampering with evidence and aiding her brother in fleeing.
The suspicious package was discovered on March 16 outside the base's visitor center, prompting an FBI investigation. MacDill Air Force Base houses U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), both critical to U.S. military operations in the Middle East and Central Asia.
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the agency's commitment to pursuing those responsible, stating, 'No one who targets our brave service members and military facilities will ever get away with it.' The motive behind the alleged plot remains unclear.
Separately, another individual, Jonathan James Elder, 35, was arrested earlier this week for making threatening phone calls to the base, though authorities have not linked him to the Zheng siblings' case.
The FBI's Tampa field office continues to investigate the incident, with lab analysis of the device still pending. Authorities have not yet disclosed the nationalities of the Zheng siblings.