Federal law enforcement authorities arrested a 35-year-old Albany woman who allegedly plotted a major terrorist attack targeting the New York State Capitol building, according to the FBI. Jessica Bowie was taken into custody after a federal criminal complaint filed in the Northern District of New York charged her with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
The Arrest and Terror Plot Details
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force arrested Bowie following an undercover investigation that spanned from July 16 to August 17 of this year, according to court documents cited by CBS News. Investigators stated that Bowie, an Albany resident who converted to Islam five years ago, formally pledged allegiance to ISIS in May and communicated online with individuals she believed were connected to the group. First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarcone stated that Bowie’s alleged plan involved using an explosive device to target the Capitol and state senators while they were in session.
“The allegations in this complaint are deeply disturbing,” Sarcone said, according to CBS News. “That someone would harbor such hatred toward our way of life and seek to target the New York State Capitol and New York state senators — that’s an attack on democracy itself, and one we will not tolerate.”
Surveillance and Weapons Acquisition
According to the federal affidavit, Bowie surveilled the Capitol building on five separate occasions, capturing the activity on security cameras. She allegedly told an FBI source posing as an ISIS infiltrator that she wanted “to destroy as much of the building as possible and kill the senators while they are meeting” so they would lose important documents and impact the American political system. Investigators noted she planned to transport the explosive device inside a DoorDash delivery bag and hoped to kill at least 100 people.
Federal prosecutors stated that Bowie visited a Rensselaer Home Depot on August 5 to purchase nails and supplies for a makeshift bomb. According to CBS News, FBI sources provided her with $200 for the purchases. During subsequent meetings with confidential sources this week, Bowie allegedly supplied $150 to acquire a firearm and a $200 donation for a bombmaker. When she exited a source’s vehicle upon arrest, authorities recovered a firearm, a magazine, ammunition, knives, and a handwritten oath of allegiance, known as a bayah.
Legal Charges and Response
Bowie appeared in federal court on Thursday and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, according to ABC News. During interviews with federal agents following her apprehension, Bowie acknowledged the severity of the charges, reportedly stating that she knew she was going to prison for the rest of her life.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued a statement thanking the FBI and local law enforcement for thwarting the plot. “Earlier this year, amid a rise in political violence and threats against public officials, we took steps to strengthen security at the State Capitol and across state government,” Hochul said, as reported by ABC News. “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.”
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