DHS Shutdown & Domestic Security — 2026-03-26

Siblings Indicted for IED at MacDill AFB — Home of CENTCOM — With Primary Suspect Now in China

A federal grand jury indicted Alen Zheng, 20, and Ann Mary Zheng, 27 — both American citizens from Land O' Lakes, Florida — for placing an IED at MacDill Air Force Base, home to CENTCOM and SOCOM, which are directing Operation Epic Fury against Iran. Alen allegedly planted the device outside the MacDill visitor center on March 10 and made a cryptic 911 call from a burner phone purchased at Best Buy claiming a bomb was on base but refused to give the location; the device was not discovered until March 16 by an airman. The device failed to detonate but U.S. Attorney Gregory Kehoe said it could have been "very deadly"; it was flown by specialized helicopter container to the FBI's Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center in Huntsville, Alabama. On March 11 the siblings sold their 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 to CarMax after cleaning it; the FBI later found explosive residue despite the cleaning. Bomb-making components matching the device were found in the Zhengs' home. Both siblings flew to China on March 12. Ann Mary was apprehended March 17 returning through Detroit and was ordered jailed pending a Nebbia hearing. Their mother — detained by ICE on an immigration-related visa overstay, not criminally charged — told investigators that Alen confessed to creating the device; Ann Mary separately confirmed this to investigators. A group calling itself the "New Weathermen Underground" sent a 3-minute, 14-second video via Signal to a Tampa Bay Times investigative editor claiming responsibility, citing opposition to the Iran war and deportation policies, congratulating an "Earthquake Faction" for a Czech Republic warehouse fire, and warning of future attacks with an "improved design." Separately, Jonathan James Elder, 35, of Palm Harbor was indicted for a copycat phone threat to the base on March 18; he is not connected to the Zheng siblings. Alen faces up to 40 years on charges of attempted damage to government property by fire/explosion, unlawful making of a destructive device, and possession of an unregistered destructive device. Ann Mary faces up to 30 years for accessory after the fact and evidence tampering. FBI Director Kash Patel announced the indictment, vowing to pursue those responsible "to the ends of the earth." The U.S. has no extradition treaty with China.

Analysis
MacDill AFB houses both CENTCOM and SOCOM, the two commands directing the Iran war. The primary suspect's flight to China creates a counterintelligence concern about whether this was a lone protest act or something more coordinated. FBI Director Patel personally announcing the indictment signals the Bureau is treating this as a priority domestic terrorism case. Independently confirmed across at least three primary sources doing original reporting: ABC News and Fox News (both marked primary) plus the Tampa Bay Times, which is the strongest primary source — it received the threatening video directly via Signal, attended the DOJ press conference, and has unique details including the mother's confession to investigators and ICE detention status. The Tampa Bay Times should be added as a primary source. US News and Townhall are rewriting wire/press conference material. Core facts are consistent across all outlets; the only discrepancy is the group name: the story says 'New Weatherman Underground' but primary sources consistently report 'New Weathermen Underground' (plural). The mother's confirmation of Alen's confession and her ICE custody on a visa overstay were reported by Tampa Bay Times and Fox News but missing from the original summary.

4 sources