According to federal authorities, the 35-year-old woman was arrested after discussing with an FBI informant a plot to bomb the state Capitol building.
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A woman was arrested in New York in connection with an alleged ISIS-inspired plot to bomb the state Capitol building in Albany, federal authorities announced Thursday, Aug. 20.
Jessica Bowie, 35, planned to build a homemade explosive, bomb the state Capitol building and then flee to Syria, federal charging documents say. Photos shared by the Department of Justice allegedly show Bowie buying the materials for the bomb at a Home Depot and taking reconnaissance photos of the New York State Capitol.
“The American people represent an undying spirit of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness — values fundamentally opposed by foreign terrorist organizations such as the one this defendant allegedly pledged her support to,” John A. Sarcone III, the first assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York, said in a statement.
Bowie could not immediately be reached for comment. She made her initial appearance in federal court in New York on Aug. 20 after being arrested a day earlier, the Justice Department said.
The New York woman’s arrest came after about a month-long correspondence with an FBI confidential informant posing as an ISIS associate, officials said. According to charging documents, Bowie’s conversations with the informant included asking them for help making a bomb, sharing that she hoped to target the Capitol and espousing ISIS rhetoric. Bowie and the informant allegedly chatted over an encrypted messaging platform not named in the court filings.
“I want to destroy as much of the building as possible and kill the senators while they are meeting. I want them to lose a lot of important documents as well,” Bowie said, according to prosecutors. “I want it to have a affect on the American system.”
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul thanked federal and state authorities for investigating the case. The law enforcement officials included the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, New York State Police and Albany Police.
“While there is no immediate threat at this time, we will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to protect New Yorkers and keep our communities safe,” Hochul said.
Emily Barnes covers state government for the USA TODAY Network-New York with a focus on how policy and laws impact New Yorkers’ taxes, communities and jobs. Follow her on Instagram or X @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@usatodayco.com. Michael Loria is a senior reporter for USA TODAY.