Woman Charged in Alleged ISIS-Inspired New York Capitol Plot
Federal prosecutors allege Jessica Bowie sought bomb-making guidance, studied security at the state Capitol and planned to kill lawmakers in an Islamic State-inspired attack.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - US authorities have charged a 35-year-old woman with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State after she allegedly plotted to bomb the New York State Capitol and kill lawmakers, according to court documents cited by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Jessica Bowie was arrested on Aug. 19 after investigators said she had acquired materials for an explosive device, including nails that could have been used as shrapnel, and obtained a food-delivery bag she allegedly considered using as a disguise to enter the Capitol.
According to a federal criminal complaint, Bowie had become an outspoken online supporter of Islamic State, also known as IS or ISIS, after converting to Islam. Investigators allege that she posted anti-American material online, including messages expressing support for the perpetrators of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
The complaint alleges that Bowie discussed her plans with an FBI informant through an encrypted messaging application and sought information about how to make explosives.
She allegedly told the informant that she wanted to "destroy" the Capitol buildings and kill senators while they were meeting. She also allegedly said she wanted the attack to cause substantial damage to government records.
Federal prosecutors allege Bowie considered conducting surveillance of the state Capitol in Albany by visiting the area and observing security measures. The complaint says she described plans to pose as a food-delivery worker to gain access to the facility and plant a bomb before fleeing to Syria.
She also allegedly discussed returning to the United States after escaping Syria to target other prominent locations, including Times Square in New York City.
The New York State Capitol in Albany houses the state legislature and serves as the center of New York's state government.
Authorities arrested Bowie after what prosecutors described as an investigation involving an FBI informant. The complaint indicates that, after her arrest, she allegedly told investigators, "There's no helping me, you guys know enough."
Bowie was scheduled to appear in federal court Thursday. Her attorney declined to comment.
The case comes amid continued US efforts to disrupt Islamic State-inspired violence, including plots in which suspects allegedly become radicalized online and seek operational guidance rather than direct contact with the group's leadership.
Unlike some previous terrorism cases involving established extremist networks, prosecutors in such cases often focus on whether suspects moved from ideological support toward concrete preparations, including acquiring bomb-making materials, conducting surveillance or identifying targets.
The allegations against Bowie remain unproven in court, and she is presumed innocent unless convicted.
The charge of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization carries serious federal penalties. Prosecutors will ultimately have to establish in court that Bowie knowingly attempted to provide material support to Islamic State and that the alleged conduct met the elements of the charged offense.
The case also highlights the security challenges facing prominent public buildings in the United States, where authorities continue to monitor threats from extremist movements while balancing public access to government institutions.
For investigators, the alleged progression from online support for Islamic State to target selection, surveillance and acquisition of explosive components was central to the case.
The allegations now move into the judicial system, where prosecutors will seek to demonstrate that Bowie's discussions and preparations amounted to a genuine attempt to carry out a terrorist attack rather than protected expression or an abandoned plan.