Woman arrested over ISIS plot to bomb state Capitol building, DOJ says
- Federal authorities have arrested a 35-year-old woman for allegedly planning an ISIS-inspired bombing attack targeting the New York State Capitol building.
- Jessica Bowie, who went by the name Aisha Saif after converting to Islam, pledged allegiance to the head of ISIS and began plotting the attack between July and August, according to an FBI criminal complaint,
- Investigators say that the woman, of Albany, New York, spent several weeks conducting surveillance on the Capitol, photographed the target, and purchased bomb-making materials from a hardware store on August 5.
- In messages to an FBI informant, Bowie allegedly detailed her plan to pose as a food-delivery worker to disguise explosives, stating her goal was to kill state senators and destroy important official documents.
- New York Governor Kathy Hochul thanked the FBI and state police for apprehending the suspect, reassuring the public that law enforcement has neutralized any immediate threat.
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