Two siblings charged over placing IED at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida
Two siblings, who are understood to be US citizens, have been charged over allegedly placing an IED outside the visitor's centre at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, on 10 March. One suspect has been arrested while the other is understood to have fled to China.
The indictments were unsealed on Thursday morning 26 March, and the US attorney for the Middle District of Florida, Greg Kehoe, detailed the timeline of the incident during a news conference on Thursday afternoon.
"The device did not detonate, but minutes after the device was planted a 911 call reported that a bomb had been placed. When that phone call came in, no location for that bomb was in fact given," Kehoe said. He added that MacDill personnel searched the entire base but did not find any device at that time.
Timeline of the incident
After the IED was placed on 10 March, prosecutors allege that, on 11 March, the siblings attempted to cover their tracks by selling the 2010 black Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 car used in the incident to the car dealer CarMax. Despite being vacuumed and cleaned, investigators later discovered trace explosive residue inside the vehicle.
Investigators are understood to have traced the 911 call's digital footprint to a burner phone that Zheng bought, corroborating the purchase with store security footage. A subsequent search of his home uncovered IED components consistent with the bomb found at the base.
The two siblings are understood to have fled to China on 12 March, where Alen Zheng is still believed to be.
On 16 March, an Air Force airman discovered the device outside the visitor centre of MacDill Air Force Base, which is home to US Central Command and US Special Operations Command. Authorities said that the device was then secured and flown to an FBI explosives lab in Huntsville, Alabama.
Ann Mary Zheng was apprehended after returning to the US through a Detroit airport on 17 March.
The siblings' mother, who reportedly admitted to authorities that her son confessed to the plot, is currently in custody pending deportation for a visa overstay, but has not been criminally charged as of Thursday afternoon.
Charges
According to press releases issued by the US Attorney's Office Middle District of Florida, Alen Zheng, 20, has been charged by indictment with attempted damage of government property by fire or explosion, unlawful making of a destructive device, and possession of an unregistered destructive device.
If convicted, Alen Zheng faces up to 40 years in federal prison.
Alen Zheng's sister, Ann Mary Zheng, 27, has been charged by indictment with assisting her brother in order to hinder and prevent his apprehension, trial and punishment, as well as with "corruptly altering, destroying, mutilating and concealing a 2010 black Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 with the intent to impair its integrity and availability for use in the federal prosecution of Alen Zheng".
If convicted, Ann Mary Zheng faces up to 30 years in federal prison.
