Four individuals implicated in a probe regarding the creation of explosives and firearms in London, Ontario, now confront 19 additional charges, as per court filings on Tuesday. Jerry Tong, Zekun (Alex) Wang, Fei (Frank) Han, and Feiyang (Astrid) Ji were initially charged in January. The quartet, who were either students or recent graduates of Western University, with the three men having backgrounds in the engineering department, now face a total of 31 distinct counts based on an updated list of charges submitted to the Ontario Court of Justice. These charges include possession of specific explosive substances, possession of stolen property, and access to computer data linked to firearm production.
The investigation commenced on January 24 following a trespassing incident at Western University, where two men gained unauthorized access to an engineering building. Subsequent police actions led to the arrest of one individual outside the building and the apprehension of the other three at a residence in the nearby University Heights neighborhood. Law enforcement authorities conducted an extensive search of the residence at 212 Chesham Place, where Wang, Han, and Ji resided, along with two additional properties in Orléans, Ottawa, and Gatineau, Quebec.
Initially facing firearms charges, including manufacturing a handgun and possessing a loaded restricted handgun, the accused now face new charges such as possession of magazines and suppression devices, possession of another prohibited firearm, and allegations of mishandling and carelessly storing a rifle. Tong, who bears the brunt of the charges, is also accused of various events in other cities, including storing rifles in Orleans, manufacturing a prohibited firearm in Ottawa, and possessing a rifle at an unauthorized location in Quebec.
Additionally, Tong, Wang, Han, and Ji face a revised set of charges related to possessing explosive substances, including pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), trinitrotoluene (TNT), dinitrophenol (DNP), hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD), and lead azide. The quartet also faces a charge of possessing property of Western University valued at less than $5,000. Wang is individually charged with accessing computer data related to firearms, specifically design files for manufacturing devices using a 3D printer or similar system.
As the legal process unfolds, Tong remains in custody, while Han was denied bail in February. Wang was granted bail in March under stringent conditions, including 24-hour house arrest and supervision by two sureties, each posting $200,000. Ji is also out on bail without sureties.