Brothers Charged After Bomb Incident at MacDill Air Force Base

Earlier this month, federal authorities brought charges against two brothers following the discovery of a possible improvised explosive device (IED) at the visitor center of MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa.

The investigation centers on 20-year-old Allen Jenn, who allegedly placed the device, alongside his 27-year-old sister, Ann Mary Jenn. Reportedly, the siblings fled to China just two days after the incident, on March 12.

Allen Jenn faces multiple serious charges, including the illegal manufacture and possession of unregistered destructive devices as well as attempted damage to government property by explosion or fire. While he remains at large, his sister was apprehended on March 17 after arriving back in the U.S. at Detroit Airport on St. Patrick’s Day.

Ann Mary Jenn has been charged with being an accessory after the fact and tampering with evidence, specifically accused of damaging a 2010 Mercedes-Benz to obstruct legal proceedings. During a recent court appearance, she pleaded not guilty. U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, Gregory W. Kehoe, mentioned that if convicted, she could face up to 30 years in prison. Meanwhile, charges against Allen Jenn, who hasn’t appeared in court yet, could lead to a 40-year sentence.

The mother of the suspects reportedly told authorities that her son confessed to the plan. She is currently in custody under Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to a visa overstay but has not faced any criminal charges as of now.

According to Kehoe, Allen Jenn supposedly placed the IED in a hidden area outside the MacDill visitor center. Shortly thereafter, authorities received a mysterious 911 call warning about a bomb, although they have not disclosed the specific location.

On March 11, the brothers attempted to erase their tracks by selling their car at CarMax, but investigators discovered explosive residue inside it.

MacDill Air Force Base serves as the headquarters for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and houses the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), responsible for overseeing special military operations.

Additionally, an anonymous video surfaced, allegedly from a group called the “New Weathermen Underground.” The speaker, whose identity was concealed and voice altered, claimed that the bombing was a protest against “the Iran war by the Epstein pedophiles in the US government.” The video also criticized budget increases for the Department of Homeland Security and immigration staff.

The speaker detailed a series of threats made against MacDill Air Force Base in the week prior, including a suspicious package found at the Dale Mabry Gate on March 16 and another threat on March 18 that led to a shelter-in-place order. However, it remains uncertain whether these threats were related to the previous incidents or if they were referencing entirely different occurrences. The speaker noted that although the bomb did not detonate, they would “take action to rectify this.”

“We have a new and improved design and will be using it soon,” they said.

The video was sent to Zachary T. Sampson, a research editor at the Tampa Bay Times, via a secure messaging app. He subsequently alerted the newspaper’s editor, Mark Katches, who contacted the police.

“The information in the video was indeed concerning, and we felt it necessary to notify law enforcement immediately,” Katches stated.

As for the ongoing investigation, FBI officials declined to comment further after reviewing the video footage.

“An IED was placed at MacDill Air Force Base, home to both CENTCOM and U.S. Special Operations Command. A brother and sister are facing charges, with the sister in custody for tampering with evidence, while the primary suspect is charged with explosives offenses and is currently out of the country. The FBI, in collaboration with other agencies, will pursue all responsible parties to ensure justice,” FBI Director Kash Patel shared on social media.

The FBI has stated that they do not know if the New Weathermen Underground has any connection to a similarly named group, the Weather Underground, which was involved in more than 20 bombings during the 1970s.

To ensure no unverified information is disseminated during this active investigation, the Tampa Bay Times has chosen not to release the full video at this time.

Security levels at MacDill Military Base were raised to “Force Protection Charlie,” the military’s second-highest alert status, beginning March 17 and remained elevated until Wednesday morning. Similarly, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey reported a suspicious package on the same day, also raising its security to FPCON CHARLIE, although no threats were confirmed. In addition, military facilities in North Carolina, California, and Texas have implemented heightened security measures, such as ID checks and vehicle inspections, though they haven’t officially adjusted their security status.