4 ex-Western University students accused in London, Ont., explosives-making scheme face 19 new charges

The four people accused in a London, Ont., explosives and firearms-manufacturing investigation now face 19 new charges, according to court documents filed Tuesday.

Jerry Tong, Zekun (Alex) Wang, Fei (Frank) Han and Feiyang (Astrid) Ji were charged in January. All four were students or recent graduates of Western University, with the three men having studied in the engineering department.

The amended list of charges filed with the Ontario Court of Justice brings the total to 31 separate counts. Some of the charges are joint counts against all four, while others pertain to the specific accused.

The newest charges include possession of five specific explosive substances, possession of stolen property and access to computer data related to making firearms.

The lengthy investigation dates back to Jan. 24, when police responded to an overnight trespassing call at Western after two men entered one of the school’s engineering buildings.

One person was arrested just outside the building. An investigation led police to a house in the nearby University Heights neighbourhood, where the other three were taken into custody.

Police completed a multi-day search of the residence at 212 Chesham Place, where Wang, Han and Ji lived, as well as two additional homes in Orléans, in suburban Ottawa, and Gatineau, Que.

Firearms charges in other cities

When they were first arrested, the four faced multiple firearms charges, including the manufacturing of a handgun and possession of a loaded restricted handgun.

New charges against Tong, Wang and Ji include the possession of magazines and suppression devices, as well as possession of another prohibited firearm. Tong and Wang are also now accused of handing and carelessly storing a rifle.

Tong, who faces the majority of charges, also has new counts related to events in other cities. He’s been charged with storing rifles at a home in Orleans, manufacturing a prohibited firearm in Ottawa and possessing a rifle at an unauthorized location in Quebec.

Court documents show that Tong held a firearms licence, but some of his charges relate to possessing a firearm at a place not indicated on his licence.

WATCH | How this Ontario home became the centre of a national security probe:

How this Ontario home became the centre of a national security probe

Four people are in custody after police discovered chemicals they say could be used to create explosives at a home in London, Ont. But, new information shows the suspects were working on developing an anti-drone weapon system. Here’s what we know so far.

Tong and Wang also face new charges related to events that happened months before they were arrested.

Wang is now charged with manufacturing a weapon between Sept. 1, 2025, and Jan. 24, 2026, while the pair are charged with breaking into a Western building on Oct. 9, 2025.

Explosive substances revealed

Court documents also show that Tong, Wang, Han and Ji face a new list of charges for possessing explosive substances, and names them for the first time.

They are accused of possessing pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), trinitrotoluene (TNT), dinitrophenol (DNP), hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD) and lead azide.

Originally, all four were charged with possession of precursor substances and finished high explosives.

All four also face a new count of possessing property of Western University valued at less than $5,000.

Wang faces a solo charge of accessing computer data that pertains to a firearm or a prohibited device, specifically, design files capable of being used with a 3D printer, metal milling machine or similar computer system for the purpose of manufacturing a device.

2 out on bail, 2 in custody

In total, these are the number of charges each accused faces:

• Tong: 28.
• Wang: 20.
• Han: 11.
• Ji: 13.

The four are still making their way through the courts, with two out on bail and two still in custody.

Tong did not request bail and remains in custody. Han was denied bail and remanded back into custody in February.

Wang was granted bail in March under strict conditions, including 24-hour house arrest and constant supervision from two sureties, who each posted $200,000. Ji is also out on bail with no sureties.