Federal authorities announced on Tuesday that a New York woman has been taken into custody for allegedly planning an attack on the state capitol building in Albany. The arrest came after an extensive investigation that included weeks of monitoring her online activity and movements.
According to the Justice Department, 35-year-old Jessica Bowie of Albany was apprehended on Monday after she was found in possession of what she believed to be an explosive device. Officials say she intended to use it to target both the capitol and state senators.
Bowie made her initial appearance in federal court on Tuesday, facing a charge of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State group.
Assistant Attorney General John Eisenberg, who oversees the Justice Department’s national security division, stated that Bowie was allegedly plotting to detonate a bomb at the capitol, aiming to kill public officials and cause as much structural damage as possible before attempting to flee to ISIS-controlled territory in Syria.
Matt Fodor, the FBI’s operational chief for national security matters, noted that court documents indicate Bowie had pledged her allegiance to ISIS.
The criminal complaint reveals that Bowie had been under surveillance for more than a month after posting anti-American rhetoric online. She was in contact with at least one informant posing as an ISIS facilitator, from whom she sought guidance on constructing explosive devices. Investigators also found that she had made multiple trips to the capitol building, taking numerous photographs of the facility.
In response to these events, New York Governor Kathy Hochul took to social media on Tuesday to highlight that the state had already ramped up security measures at the capitol and other government buildings earlier this year due to the growing concerns over political violence and threats directed at public servants.