A man suspected of planting an improvised explosive device at a military base in Florida where U.S. Central Command operates has fled to China, FBI Director Kash Patel said Thursday.

Alen Zheng, 20, is accused in an indictment unsealed Thursday of placing an IED earlier this month at the visitor's center to MacDill Air Force base in Tampa, Florida.

The device did not explode, and it was discovered and disassembled by authorities on March 16, the U.S. Attorney's office said in a statement.

MacDill is the headquarters of CENTCOM, which is responsible for military operations in the Middle East and the prosecution of the conflict against Iran. It also is home to U.S. Special Operations Command.

Patel, in a post on X, said Zheng's sister, Ann Mary Zheng, had also been indicted and is in custody. She is charged with evidence tampering and helping her brother evade arrest.

Alen Zheng is charged with attempting to damage government property, unlawful making of a destructive device and possession of a destructive device.

Patel said he is "currently in China."