An ISIS-inspired militant identified as Jessica Bowie, 35, was arrested for allegedly plotting an attack on the New York State Capitol building, the FBI announced Thursday.
Bowie, who converted to Islam five years ago, began planning the attack in July, according to a criminal complaint. The FBI stated she allegedly purchased bomb-making materials from a hardware store on August 5. Federal agents worked with informants for two weeks to plan the alleged attack with Bowie.
According to the complaint, Bowie tracked the Capitol building for weeks, taking photographs from various vantage points, including an observation hall. Informants met with Bowie on Wednesday, providing her with an inert explosive device and an inert handgun, along with instructions on how to detonate the device. She was arrested shortly thereafter.
During an interview with FBI agents, Bowie made statements indicating awareness of her impending legal consequences. "There’s no helping me, you guys know enough, there’s no helping me, I’m…going to prison for the rest of my life," she allegedly stated. She also reportedly said, "Material support is up to 20 years in prison, I already Googled it before, I know I’m going to jail."