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A brother and sister have been charged in relation to placing a potentially explosive device at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, according to information obtained by Fox News Digital.
The FBI has identified Alen Zheng as the individual believed to have set the device. Currently residing in China, he faces charges including attempted damage to government property through fire or explosion, the illegal creation of a destructive device, and possession of an unregistered destructive device.
Meanwhile, his sister, Ann Mary Zheng, has been arrested by the FBI’s Tampa division. She is accused of being an accessory after the fact and of tampering with evidence.
Ann Mary Zheng allegedly concealed or damaged a 2010 Mercedes-Benz to obstruct its use in legal proceedings, as indicated in court documents.
On March 16, 2026, Tampa Police officers were seen blocking traffic on South Dale Mabry Highway near MacDill Air Force Base’s main entrance after a suspicious package was reported at the Tampa, Florida gate. The base serves as the headquarters for CENTCOM. (Photo by Octavio JONES / AFP via Getty Images)
“The indictments today highlight the exceptional work of our FBI teams and the outstanding cooperation with our state, local, and federal partners,” stated FBI Director Kash Patel in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“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,” he added.
FBI Director Kash Patel arrives to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on Sept. 16, 2025. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The indictments were unsealed Thursday morning, and a news conference is expected Thursday afternoon.
On March 16, FBI Tampa had announced that a suspicious package had been discovered outside the MacDill visitor center.
MacDill Air Force Base houses the headquarters of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which is currently handling Operation Epic Fury against Iran.
The base also houses U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), which oversees all special operations forces across the Department of War.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
