BREAKING: 2 siblings indicted in bombing plot at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida

A brother and sister have been indicted on charges related to the placement of an explosive device at Florida’s MacDill Air Force Base, home to US Central Command. 

Alen Zheng, who the FBI says is currently in China, is believed to have planted the device and 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, per Fox News. Ann Mary Zheng, Alen Zheng’s sister, has been arrested by FBI Tampa and has been charged with accessory after the fact and tampering with evidence.

FBI Director Kash Patel said, "A brother and sister have now been indicted. One is in custody for accessory and evidence tampering and the primary suspect is charged with explosives offenses and is currently in China. This FBI, working with our partners, will continue pursuing all those responsible and ensure they are brought to justice, no matter where they are."

The indictment against Alen Zheng alleged that he "attempted to damage and destroy, by means of fire and an explosive … a building and real property, namely the Visitor’s Center at MacDill Airforce Base, in whole and in part owned and possessed by and leased to the United States and any department thereof." 

The indictment against Ann Mary Zheng alleged that she "did receive, relieve, comfort, and assist the offender, Alen Zheng, in order to hinder and prevent the offender’s apprehension, trial, and punishment." The indictment stated that she "did corruptly alter, destroy, mutilate, and conceal an object, a 2010 black Mercedes-Benz BLK 350 … with the intent to impair its integrity and availability for use in an official proceeding, namely a federal prosecution of Alen Zheng for Attempted Damage of a Government Property By Fire or Explosion." 

US Attorney Gregory Kehoe said in a press conference on Thursday afternoon that the Zhengs are American citizens. He said that the explosive device, which was recovered undetonated, was placed on March 10. A 911 call was placed that same day stating that a bomb had been placed on the case, however, after a search by base personnel, no device was found. The device was discovered on March 16 by Air Force personnel. He said that the Zhengs left the country for China on March 12, and on the 17th, the sister returned to the United States. 

He noted that another indictment was also handed down, this time against Jonathan James Elder, for making a threatening call to the base on March 18. Among the threats made were the statements "tick, tick, tick," and "did you enjoy your pipe bomb at the front gate of MacDill?" Elder was arrested at a care facility he was staying in. Kehoe said Elder was Backer Acted for several days and has been taken into custody. 

The indictments come days after the Tampa Bay Times received an anonymous video in which a person claimed responsibility for planting an explosive device. In the video, the speaker laid out the timeline of threats made against MacDill, and referenced the then-unreported claim that someone had planted a bomb near the base on March 10. The speaker also referenced a 911 call made about the March 10 bomb.

The speaker said the bomb failed to detonate, but that those behind the act had "taken actions to rectify this." The speaker said, "We have a newly improved design that we plan to use in the upcoming days." 

The speaker claimed to be a member of a group called the "New Weathermen Underground," and congratulated an "Earthquake Faction" for a fire that took place at a Czech Republic warehouse earlier in March. The Weather Underground was active in the 1970s, and claimed responsibility for over two dozen bombings.