Four individuals implicated in a probe involving the manufacturing of explosives and firearms in London, Ontario, are now confronting 19 additional charges, as per court records submitted on Tuesday. Jerry Tong, Zekun (Alex) Wang, Fei (Frank) Han, and Feiyang (Astrid) Ji were originally charged in January. All four have ties to Western University, with the men having backgrounds in the engineering field. The revised list of charges, filed at the Ontario Court of Justice, brings the total counts against them to 31. The new charges encompass possession of distinct explosive materials, possession of stolen goods, and unauthorized access to computer data linked to firearm production.
The investigation, which began on January 24 following an incident at Western University, led to arrests and an extensive search at a residence where three of the accused resided. Police also searched two other properties in Orléans, Ottawa, and Gatineau, Quebec.
Initially facing firearms charges, including handgun manufacturing and possession of loaded firearms, Tong, Wang, and Ji now confront additional charges related to firearm accessories and possession of prohibited weapons. Tong faces a slew of charges, including firearm storage violations in multiple cities, while Wang is accused of weapon manufacturing during a specific timeframe and breaking into a building in 2025.
Moreover, the accused are now charged with possessing various explosive substances, including pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) and trinitrotoluene (TNT), among others. Additionally, they are accused of holding property from Western University valued at less than $5,000. Wang faces a distinct charge of accessing computer data related to firearm production.
Currently, Tong faces 28 charges, Wang faces 20, Han faces 11, and Ji faces 13. Two accused are out on bail, while the other two remain in custody, with Tong opting not to seek bail and Han being remanded in custody. Wang was granted bail under strict conditions in March, and Ji is also out on bail without any sureties.