Top News

FBI: Woman Charged in Alleged ISIS-Inspired Plot to Bomb New York Capitol/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Federal prosecutors charged Jessica Bowie with attempting to provide material support to ISIS in an alleged plot to bomb the New York State Capitol. Authorities say Bowie surveilled the Capitol, purchased bomb-making materials and obtained inert weapons from undercover FBI informants. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervised release.

Quick Look

• Jessica Bowie, 35, was arrested Wednesday by FBI agents.
• She allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS in audio recordings.
• Prosecutors say she surveilled the New York Capitol at least five times.
• Bowie allegedly wanted to attack state senators while they were meeting.
• She planned to conceal the bomb inside a food delivery bag, according to the complaint.
• Undercover informants supplied her with an inert explosive and firearm.
• Bowie purchased materials at Home Depot, including a bin of nails.
• Officials say she hoped to kill at least half of the people inside the Capitol.
• She allegedly planned to escape to Syria after the attack.
• Authorities say she discussed later attacks in Times Square and at the White House.
• Senators had been in recess since June.
• Officials said there was no continuing threat.
• Bowie’s attorney declined to comment.
• The charge carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence.

Deep Look

FBI arrests woman in alleged Capitol bombing plot

Federal authorities charged a 35-year-old Albany woman in connection with an alleged ISIS-inspired plan to bomb the New York State Capitol and kill state senators.

Jessica Bowie was arrested Wednesday after purchasing what she believed was an explosive device and expressing “her desire to carry out an attack at the New York State Capitol,” said Craig Tremaroli, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Albany field office.

The explosive and firearm involved in the final transaction were inert and provided through an FBI undercover operation.

Bowie’s attorney declined to comment.

Prosecutors charge attempted support for ISIS

Bowie was charged with one count of attempting to provide material support or resources to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization.

John Sarcone, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York, said Bowie had been radicalized online and “spread messages of hate and violence against the American people.”

The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and a potential lifetime of supervised release.

Bowie allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS

Authorities say Bowie pledged allegiance to ISIS through several audio recordings.

She allegedly conducted surveillance at the Capitol at least five times and took dozens of photographs.

Online messages drew FBI attention

By mid-July, she was communicating with an undercover FBI informant posing as an ISIS facilitator.

Photos identified intended target

Over the following two weeks, Bowie allegedly continued messaging the informant and sent photographs of the Capitol.

She marked the area she intended to target, according to the complaint.

Prosecutors say Bowie planned to hide the explosive inside a food delivery service bag so she would appear to be a delivery worker.

She allegedly intended to escape to Syria after carrying out the attack.

Recorded meeting detailed alleged plan

On Aug. 5, Bowie met with two additional informants inside a vehicle.

The meeting was recorded without her knowledge.

“We definitely want to make sure the senators get killed for sure,” she allegedly told the informants.

Informants accompany Bowie to Home Depot

The informants drove Bowie to a Home Depot and lent her $200, officials said.

She purchased materials they said would be required to build the explosive, including “a large plastic bin full of nails.”

Inert weapons transferred before arrest

Bowie met two informants in a vehicle Wednesday and paid $150 for an inert firearm, ammunition and a magazine, according to the complaint.

An informant showed her an inert explosive device purportedly constructed from the materials she had purchased.

Suspect allegedly discussed other attacks

When she exited the vehicle carrying the inert firearm and explosive, FBI agents arrested her.

She also allegedly discussed attacking the White House and the president after bombing the state Capitol.

New York officials respond

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said officials had strengthened security at the Capitol earlier in the year “amid a rise in political violence and threats against public officials.”

State senators had adjourned for recess in June.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the alleged plot “deeply alarming.”

FBI credits terrorism task force

Tremaroli said cooperation among federal, state and local agencies prevented the alleged attack.

The allegations remain unproven, and Bowie is presumed innocent unless convicted in court.

More on US News