US authorities: prosecution of a young man who allegedly planted an improvised explosive device on a military base in Florida

A young man faces criminal charges for allegedly planting an improvised explosive device at a military base in Florida (southeast), where the U.S. Joint Forces Command (CENTCOM, “Central Command”), the U.S. military’s joint command responsible for the Middle East region, U.S. authorities said yesterday.

The suspect “is in China”, while his sister, suspected of helping him escape, has been arrested, Cass Patel, the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), said via X.

The youth, Allen Jeng, is accused of attempting on March 10^day to cause damage to a visitor reception area at McDill Air Force Base near Tampa, Florida, according to an indictment filed the day before yesterday, Wednesday, and made public yesterday, Thursday.

Allen Jeng now faces charges of attempted destruction of government property, unlawful manufacturing and possession of an explosive device, the Justice Department clarified.

On the evening of March 10¹⁰, he attempted, in vain, to detonate an explosive device at a visitor reception centre at the base, he explained.

The device was located and defused by law enforcement forces, the ministry added.

The US authorities had announced on March 16¹⁶ the discovery of a “suspicious package” near the entrance of the base, which led to the police shutting down traffic in the area.

The suspect’s sister, Ann Merri Jeng, 27, is accused of helping him evade authorities and unload a vehicle in which he went to plant the improvised explosive device at the base. She was arrested the day before yesterday and a hearing to determine whether she will remain in custody was set for Tuesday, March 31^day.

Allen Jeng faces a 40-year sentence if convicted and his sister Ann Mary Jeng faces a 30-year sentence.

The McDill base is home to CENTCOM, which is running the ongoing war against Iran launched by the US and Israel on 28^February.