Jessica Bowie, a 35-year-old Albany woman, was arrested by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force on Wednesday, August 20, 2026, for allegedly plotting an ISIS-inspired bombing attack on the New York State Capitol. She faces a single charge of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a lifetime term of supervised release, according to federal officials.
Details of the Alleged Plot
According to a criminal complaint, Bowie converted to Islam five years ago and was radicalized online. She operated multiple social media accounts under an Islamic name, several of which were repeatedly suspended for violating platform rules. Between May and July, accounts linked to Bowie posted messages expressing support for terrorism, and she recorded herself swearing allegiance to ISIS in both English and Arabic.
Between July 16 and August 17, Bowie communicated with a confidential FBI source posing as an ISIS facilitator. She told the source she wanted to bomb the Capitol, which sits less than two miles from her home, to "harm the enemies of god." Surveillance teams observed her visiting and photographing the site on five separate occasions between July 21 and August 9.
In one message cited in the complaint, Bowie wrote: "I want to destroy as much of the building as possible and kill the senators while they are meeting." She reportedly wanted to time the attack for when the largest number of senators would be present, and planned to flee the country afterwards before returning to carry out further strikes, including a New Year's Eve attack in Times Square and an assault on the White House.
Acquisition of Bomb-Making Materials
One of the confidential sources gave Bowie $200 to buy bomb-making materials. She purchased items at a Home Depot on August 5 and handed them over to sources in the days that followed. Last week, she also asked about obtaining a handgun, saying she wanted it to shoot at police if they approached her during the attack. She met with sources to buy a firearm and ammunition on Wednesday, the day she was arrested.
Craig Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albany Field Office, said: "Miss Bowie didn't just want to kill lawmakers; she wanted a complete disruption of our government."
Government Response
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she was "grateful" to the FBI and New York State Police for stopping the plot, adding that security at the Capitol had already been strengthened earlier in the year amid a rise in threats against public officials. John A. Sarcone, the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York, disclosed the charges to reporters on Thursday and said the arrest sends a clear message: "We are vigilant, we are prepared, and just as we stop this defendant, we will continue to disrupt plots and protect the American people."
