FBI foils New York woman’s alleged ISIS attack plan on state capitol
Jessica Bowie, a 35-year-old woman from New York, was stopped by the FBI from executing an ISIS-inspired plan to bomb the New York State Capitol building in Albany. She faces federal charges for attempting to provide material support to ISIS after revealing her intentions and communicating support for terrorism through social media. Bowie had converted to Islam, adopted an Islamic name, and expressed praise for September 11th. Investigators found audio files of her pledging allegiance to ISIS and sharing her oath with others. She had solicited help from an informant to make explosives aimed at targeting the Capitol, planning to escape to Syria afterward and continue her violent activities. Bowie was arrested and could face up to 20 years in prison. Authorities highlighted that her arrest should serve as a warning to those engaging in radicalization or planning acts of violence.
The FBI stopped a New York woman’s alleged Islamic State group-inspired plan to bomb the New York State Capitol building in Albany.
Jessica Bowie, 35, is facing federal charges for allegedly attempting to provide material support to the terrorist group ISIS after a confidential informant told the FBI that Bowie had reached out for help making explosives.
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Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York John Sarcone praised the FBI’s work during a press conference on Thursday, adding that Bowie’s arrest should send a message to anyone being radicalized.
“I want the American people to know this: Today’s announcement will have a chilling effect on anyone in this country who is being radicalized or considering acts of violence, and on our enemies whose governments support death to America,” he said. “We are vigilant, we are prepared, and just as we stopped this defendant, we will continue to disrupt plots and protect the American people.”
According to the criminal complaint, Bowie converted to Islam five years ago and changed her name to an honorific Islamic name, Aisha Saif. The complaint says she later used social media to communicate her support for terrorism.
“Praise be to Allah for September 11th,” Bowie said to another user in May.
Investigators uncovered audio files of Bowie pledging her allegiance to ISIS, which the FBI identified from a reference to the current leader of the terrorist group. Bowie allegedly told other users about her oath and shared the audio file of her reciting the pledge with them.
On July 16, Bowie began communicating with a confidential informant and asked for help making explosives to “target my state capitol,” the complaint said.
“Ideally in a way I could get away with and hop on plane after,” Bowie said. “But idk if it’s doable.”
The complaint details that Bowie told the informant that she supported the Islamic State by “spreading information online, helping and encouraging others to take byah.” Byah is the term for the ISIS oath.
Bowie also sent the informant photos of the New York State Capitol and circled the area she intended to cause harm with the explosive. She then allegedly performed surveillance on the area between July 21 and Aug. 9.
“I want to destroy as much of the building as possible to kill the senators while they are meeting,” Bowie said. “I want them to lose a lot of important documents as well.
“I want it to have an effect on the American system and destroy some of the taghut,” she said, taghut meaning anything worshipped instead of Allah, according to the complaint.
Bowie planned to put the bomb in a delivery bag and escape to Syria after detonating it, the complaint alleges. She allegedly pledged to return and carry out further attacks.
The FBI said Bowie paid an informant for a gun, tendered cash for a bomb maker, and provided additional funding when it was requested. Bowie was arrested on Wednesday.
Bowie faces up to 20 years in prison for allegedly providing support to a terrorist organization. She will make her first court appearance Thursday.
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