Federal authorities have arrested Jessica Bowie, a 35-year-old Albany woman accused of plotting an ISIS-inspired bomb attack on the New York State Capitol building. Bowie allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS, scouted the Capitol, and purchased materials intended for an explosive device, according to an FBI affidavit.
Bowie, who converted to Islam approximately five years ago and adopted the name "Aisha Saif," reportedly expressed a desire to harm "enemies of god" and benefit ISIS. During communications with undercover agents, she is alleged to have stated her intention to "poison these infidels" and praised the September 11th attacks. Investigators noted that Bowie maintained over a dozen social media profiles, many of which were repeatedly suspended for violating platform rules.
According to the affidavit, by July, Bowie's rhetoric escalated into a plot targeting the New York State Capitol. An FBI confidential source, posing as an ISIS facilitator, began communicating with Bowie, who allegedly identified the Capitol as her target and requested assistance in making explosives. Between July 21 and August 9, Bowie allegedly scouted the Capitol building on multiple occasions, taking photographs and studying its security. She reportedly told the source she wanted to "destroy as much of the building as possible and kill the senators while they are meeting."
During an August 5 meeting with additional FBI confidential sources, whom Bowie believed were connected to ISIS, she discussed her desire for an explosive powerful enough to kill senators and destroy the building. The affidavit quotes Bowie stating, "I don’t want to take this kind of risk and then have it kill what, two or three people what good is that?" She allegedly emphasized that killing the senators was "the most important part."
Further escalating the alleged plot, Bowie reportedly used $200 supplied by an FBI source on August 5 to purchase materials at a Home Depot in Rensselaer, New York. These materials allegedly included a large container of nails, which Bowie believed would serve as shrapnel. She later provided an inert firearm and an inert explosive device, assembled from the purchased materials, to confidential sources on August 19. During this meeting, she allegedly stated that the Capitol could contain as many as 200 people and hoped to kill at least half of them. She also mentioned that if her roommate discovered the device, she would kill the roommate. Bowie was arrested after leaving this meeting, with agents reportedly finding knives and a handwritten pledge of allegiance to ISIS on her person.
Bowie is charged with attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization. The affidavit also suggests Bowie discussed potential future targets, including the White House, and carrying out additional violence in the United States after returning from Syria. She also allegedly discussed a plan to kill her roommate quietly if the device was discovered.