Four individuals linked to a probe involving the manufacturing of explosives and firearms in London, Ontario, have been hit with 19 additional charges, as per court records filed on Tuesday. Jerry Tong, Zekun (Alex) Wang, Fei (Frank) Han, and Feiyang (Astrid) Ji, who were initially charged in January, are all tied to Western University either as students or recent graduates, with the male suspects having academic backgrounds in the engineering field.
The updated list of charges submitted to the Ontario Court of Justice now totals to 31 separate counts. These charges include possession of specific explosive materials, possession of stolen goods, and unauthorized access to computer data related to firearm production. Some charges are collective against all four individuals, while others are specific to each accused party.
Among the fresh charges are allegations of possessing five distinct explosive substances, along with stolen property possession and computer data access connected to firearms manufacturing. The investigation, which commenced on January 24 following a trespassing incident at Western University, led to the arrest of the suspects at a residence in the University Heights neighborhood.
Police conducted an extensive search at the residence where Wang, Han, and Ji resided, along with two other properties in Orleans, Ottawa, and Gatineau, Quebec. Initially facing multiple firearms charges, including the creation and possession of firearms, Tong, Wang, and Ji now confront additional charges such as possession of firearm accessories, unlawful storage of firearms, and possession of prohibited firearms.
Tong, the primary figure among the accused, is implicated in events across various cities, including allegedly storing rifles in Orleans, producing a prohibited firearm in Ottawa, and possessing a rifle at an unauthorized site in Quebec. Despite possessing a firearms license, Tong is accused of carrying firearms in locations not authorized by his license. Additionally, Tong and Wang face charges linked to events preceding their arrests.
The suspects now face a new set of charges for possessing explosive substances, including pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), trinitrotoluene (TNT), dinitrophenol (DNP), hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD), and lead azide. They were initially charged with possessing precursor substances and completed high explosives.
The accused individuals face varying numbers of charges, with Tong at 28, Wang at 20, Han at 11, and Ji at 13. While two suspects are out on bail, Tong did not request bail and remains in custody, and Han was denied bail. Wang and Ji were granted bail under strict conditions, including house arrest and supervision from sureties.
The legal proceedings are ongoing, with the accused individuals navigating through the court system as the case progresses.