US charges woman with IS-inspired plot to blow up New York State Capitol
First Assistant US Attorney John A Sarcone III speaks during a press conference to announce the arrest of a woman accused of plotting to attack the New York State Capitol building in Albany, at the US Courthouse in Albany, New York, on Aug 20, 2026. (Photo: REUTERS/Cindy Schultz)
NEW YORK: US authorities charged a woman who allegedly supported the Islamic State group with a terrorism offence on Thursday (Aug 20) after she told an FBI informant she "wanted to destroy" the New York State Capitol buildings, court filings showed.
Located in Albany near the Canadian border, the New York State Capitol is the nerve centre of the state government and contains both houses of the state's legislature.
Jessica Bowie, 35, was charged with attempting to provide material support to designated "foreign terrorist organisations" according to court filings.
The woman had allegedly converted to Islam and become a vocal online supporter of the Islamic State group, posting anti-American messages online, including support for the Sep 11, 2001 attackers.
She is alleged to have told an FBI informant of her support for the proscribed group and sought guidance on how to manufacture explosives, the criminal complaint shows.
Bowie told the informant that she would "make it a point to have picnics by the capital to observe" and learn about security measures, the complaint alleges.
She added to the informant on an encrypted messaging app that she had "picked up some anarchist literature at the social justice centre" which "could have some good tips".
"I want to destroy as much of the building as possible and kill the senators while they are meeting. I want them to lose a lot of important documents as well," she wrote.
The accused woman mused about posing as a food delivery driver, using the disguise as cover to access the facility to plant a bomb, before fleeing to Syria.
She allegedly suggested she could return to the United States to attack further high-profile targets, including New York's Times Square if her escape was successful.
After acquiring a DoorDash bag and components for a bomb, including nails to be used as shrapnel, Bowie was arrested on Aug 19 by FBI agents.
"There's no helping me, you guys know enough," she is alleged to have told agents.
Bowie was due to appear in court Thursday.
Her attorney declined to comment.
