Woman accused of plotting ISIS-inspired attack on New York Capitol building
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Aug. 20, 2026, 2:00 PM EDT / Updated Aug. 20, 2026, 2:15 PM EDT
By Tom Winter and Doha Madani
A woman has been charged with providing support to a terror group after allegedly plotting an ISIS-inspired attack on the New York State Capitol building in Albany, federal officials said Thursday
Jessica Bowie, 35, allegedly told a confidentialexplosives, according to a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
Bowie is expected in court Thursday afternoon on a single charge of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terror organization
Federal and state officials scheduled a news conference to address the case for 3 p.m. ET
According to the complaint, Bowie converted to Islam five years ago and created several social media accounts using an honorific Islamic name. She appeared to have created multiple accounts because they were “frequently suspended by providers for violating their terms of use,” the complaint said
Several accounts allegedly tracing back to Bowie posted messages expressing support for terrorism between May and July. The complaint alleges that Bowie communicated between July 16 through August 17 with a confidentialor
She told theCapitol, according to the complaint. The building was less than two miles away from her home, and she said she wanted to do something to “harm the enemies of god,” the complaint said
The complaint alleges that Bowie visited the Capitol five times between July 21 and Aug. 9, where surveillance teams observed her photographing the area. In messages to theerican system.”
“I want to destroy as much of the building as possible and kill the senators while they are meeting,” one message included in the complaint said
Two other confidentialas recorded, the complaint said. Bowie allegedly said she wanted to attack the building on a day where the most senators would be present
She hoped to escape after the attack and, if she evaded the authorities, planned to return for future plots, the complaint said
Asked why she wanted to target the state Capitol, Bowie allegedly said, “Ideally it would be the White House with the president, but like, that’s an even harder job.”
She was also asked whether it would bother her if other people, including Muslims, died in the attack, the complaint said
“I’d say it definitely bothers me, and I know I’m going to hear about the things after — what’s going to bother me, especially if there’s a Muslim, if there’s children, pregnant women,” Bowie responded, according to the complaint
She went on to say, however, that Allah would hopefully forgive her, the complaint said
One of the confidentialhe allegedly did on August 5 at a Home Depot. She then gave the items to the confidential
Last week, Bowie allegedly asked one of theso if the cops do get towards me during the operation I can shoot back,” the complaint said
She met with the confidentialcomplaint
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