Four individuals implicated in an investigation involving the manufacturing of explosives and firearms in London, Ontario, are now facing 19 additional charges, as per court records filed on Tuesday. Jerry Tong, Zekun (Alex) Wang, Fei (Frank) Han, and Feiyang (Astrid) Ji were initially charged in January. All four individuals were either students or recent graduates of Western University, with the three male suspects having backgrounds in the engineering field.
The updated set of charges presented to the Ontario Court of Justice now brings the total number of charges to 31, including joint counts against all four accused and specific charges against certain individuals. The fresh charges encompass the possession of five distinct explosive materials, possession of stolen property, and unauthorized access to computer data linked to the production of firearms.
The investigation, which commenced on January 24, originated from a trespassing incident at Western University, where two individuals unlawfully entered an engineering building. Subsequently, one person was apprehended outside the building, leading law enforcement to a residence in the nearby University Heights neighborhood where the remaining three suspects were taken into custody.
Law enforcement conducted an extensive search of the residence at 212 Chesham Place, inhabited by Wang, Han, and Ji, in addition to two other residences in Orléans, Ottawa, and Gatineau, Quebec.
Upon their initial arrest, the four individuals were confronted with multiple firearms charges, such as the production of a handgun and possession of a loaded restricted handgun. The latest charges against Tong, Wang, and Ji involve possession of firearm accessories, another prohibited firearm, and mishandling and negligently storing a rifle. Tong and Wang also face accusations of unlawful possession of rifles in various cities.
Furthermore, Wang is charged with weapon manufacturing between September 1, 2025, and January 24, 2026, while both he and Tong are accused of breaking into a Western building on October 9, 2025.
The accused individuals are now facing a new set of charges related to the possession of explosive substances, including pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), trinitrotoluene (TNT), dinitrophenol (DNP), hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD), and lead azide. Initially, all four were charged with possessing precursor substances and fully developed high explosives.
The number of charges each individual faces are as follows: Tong – 28, Wang – 20, Han – 11, Ji – 13. While two of the accused are out on bail, the other two remain in custody as legal proceedings progress. Tong opted not to seek bail and is currently detained, while Han was denied bail and remanded in February. Wang was granted bail in March under stringent conditions, including 24-hour house arrest and constant supervision from two sureties, each posting a bail of $200,000. Ji is also released on bail without sureties.
