A brother and sister have been indicted in connection with an alleged plot to place an improvised explosive device (IED) at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, according to federal authorities. The FBI stated that Alen Zheng, the primary suspect believed to have planted the device, is currently in China. He faces charges including attempted damage to government property by fire or explosion, unlawful making of a destructive device, and possession of an unregistered destructive device.
His sister, Ann Mary Zheng, was arrested by the FBI Tampa office and charged with accessory after the fact and tampering with evidence. She allegedly hid or damaged a 2010 Mercedes-Benz to obstruct its use in legal proceedings, as per court documents.
Federal Response
'No one who targets our brave service members and military facilities will ever get away with it,' FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement. 'This FBI will pursue all those responsible for the incident at MacDill Air Force Base to the ends of the earth,' he added.
The indictments, unsealed Thursday morning, follow the discovery of a suspicious package outside the MacDill visitor center on March 16. Located in Tampa, MacDill Air Force Base houses the headquarters of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which is currently managing Operation Epic Fury against Iran. The base is also home to U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), overseeing all special operations forces under the Department of Defense.
'Today’s indictments are the result of tremendous investigative work from our FBI teams and great coordination from our state, local, and federal partners,' Patel said.
This case highlights ongoing national security challenges and the importance of safeguarding military installations against foreign threats.