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A brother and sister have been formally charged in relation to the placement of a suspected explosive device at Florida’s MacDill Air Force Base, according to information obtained by Fox News Digital.
The FBI has identified Alen Zheng as the individual who allegedly planted the device. He is currently believed to be in China and is facing serious allegations, 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, FBI Tampa has taken his sister, Ann Mary Zheng, into custody. She is accused of being an accessory after the fact and of tampering with evidence.
According to court documents, Ann Mary Zheng allegedly concealed or damaged a 2010 Mercedes-Benz to obstruct its use in legal proceedings.
The incident prompted a significant police response, with Tampa Police Department officers blocking traffic on South Dale Mabry Highway near the main entrance of MacDill Air Force Base. This location, which includes the headquarters of CENTCOM, was the site of a reported suspicious package on March 16, 2026.
“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 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.Â
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.