Four individuals implicated in a probe related to the manufacturing of explosives and firearms in London, Ontario, are now facing an additional 19 charges, as per court records submitted on Tuesday. The accused, Jerry Tong, Zekun (Alex) Wang, Fei (Frank) Han, and Feiyang (Astrid) Ji, were initially charged in January. All four have ties to Western University, either as students or recent graduates, with the male trio having backgrounds in the engineering field.
The updated set of charges filed at the Ontario Court of Justice totals 31 separate counts. Some charges are collective allegations against all four suspects, while others are specific to individual accused persons. The fresh charges encompass possession of five distinct explosive materials, possession of stolen goods, and unauthorized access to computer data linked to the manufacturing of firearms.
The investigation, which commenced on January 24 following a trespassing incident at Western University, led to the apprehension of two individuals who had entered an engineering building on the campus. Subsequently, one person was arrested near the building, and further inquiries directed law enforcement to a residence in the University Heights neighborhood where the remaining three suspects were taken into custody.
Law enforcement authorities conducted an extensive search of the residence at 212 Chesham Place, where Wang, Han, and Ji resided, along with searches at two additional properties in Orléans, Ottawa, and Gatineau, Quebec.
Initially arrested on various firearms charges including handgun manufacturing and possession of a loaded restricted handgun, Tong, Wang, and Ji now face additional charges such as possession of firearm magazines and suppressors, as well as possession of another prohibited firearm. Tong and Wang are further accused of handling and carelessly storing a rifle.
Tong, who bears the brunt of the charges, is also implicated in events in other cities, including charges related to storing rifles in Orleans, manufacturing a prohibited firearm in Ottawa, and possessing a rifle at an unauthorized location in Quebec. Despite holding a firearms license, Tong faces charges for possessing a firearm at a location not specified on his license.
Moreover, Wang and Tong face fresh charges tied to incidents that occurred prior to their arrest. Wang is now accused of manufacturing a weapon between September 1, 2025, and January 24, 2026, while both are charged with breaking into a Western building on October 9, 2025.
Court documents unveil that Tong, Wang, Han, and Ji are confronted with a new array of charges for possessing explosive substances, which are specified for the first time. The charges include possession of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), trinitrotoluene (TNT), dinitrophenol (DNP), hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD), and lead azide. The initial charges against all four individuals involved possession of precursor substances and completed high explosives.
Additionally, all four suspects face a new charge of possessing Western University property valued at less than $5,000. Wang is individually charged with accessing computer data related to firearms or prohibited devices, specifically design files usable with a 3D printer, metal milling machine, or a similar system for manufacturing devices.
In total, the accused individuals are facing the following number of charges:
– Tong: 28
– Wang: 20
– Han: 11
– Ji: 13
The legal proceedings are ongoing, with two of the accused individuals released on bail while the other two remain in custody. Tong opted not to seek bail and remains 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 supervision by two sureties who each posted $200,000. Ji is also out on bail without the need for sureties.