A brother and sister have been charged in connection with an alleged explosive device found earlier this month outside the gate of MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, the home of U.S. Central Command.
The Department of Justice charged Alen Zheng, 20, and Ann Mary Zheng, 27, both of Land O’ Lakes, Florida, in separate indictments Wednesday. Ann Mary is in custody, while Alen has fled to China, according to multiple media reports.
Wednesday’s DOJ announcement did not specify what country the Zhengs are citizens of.
Alen Zheng is believed to have planted the device, and he is facing charges of attempted damage to government property by fire or explosion, unlawful making of a destructive device, and possession of an unregistered destructive device. Ann Mary Zheng was charged with accessory after the fact and tampering with evidence.
The charges are in connection to a suspicious package that was found outside the gate of the Tampa-area base on March 16, which prompted an FBI investigation. The base, given its home to U.S. Central Command — which is the point combatant command for the U.S. war in Iran — has been on heightened alert since the conflict began.
The base is also home to U.S. Special Operations Command.
“Today’s indictments are the result of tremendous investigative work from our FBI teams and great coordination from our state, local, and federal partners across the board,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement to Fox News.
“No one who targets our brave service members and military facilities will ever get away with it — and this FBI will pursue all those responsible for the incident at MacDill Air Force Base to the ends of the earth,” Patel added.
Another individual, 35-year-old Jonathan James Elder, was arrested earlier this week and charged with making threatening phone calls to the base, though there has not been any announced connection between the two events.
RUSSIA HAS BEEN AN EARLY BENEFICIARY OF THE US-IRAN WAR IN MIDDLE EAST
With the war in Iran ongoing, U.S. bases have been on alert for possible domestic attacks.
U.S. officials have recently tracked multiple drone incursions over Fort Lesley J. McNair Army base near Washington, D.C. According to the Washington Post, the base is home to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and their families, but authorities have not figured out where the drones came from.
