New York Woman Arrested After Confession to FBI Informant Allegedly Involved in ISIS Plot
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The New York woman’s arrest came after about a month-long correspondence with an FBI confidential informant posing as an ISIS associate, officials said. According to charging documents, Bowie’s conversations with the informant included asking them for help making a bomb, sharing that she hoped to target the Capitol and espousing ISIS rhetoric. Bowie and the informant allegedly chatted over an encrypted messaging platform not named in the court filings.
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The Guardian USJessica Bowie, 35, of Albany, was charged with planning to deploy an explosive device at the state capitol with the intention of killing public officials and destroying “as much of the building as possible” before fleeing to IS-controlled territory in Syria, according to John A Eisenberg, assistant attorney general for national security.
Associated PressAgents began monitoring those accounts and became aware starting around July 16 that Bowie wanted to carry out an attack on the state Capitol, the criminal complaint said. She asked for lessons from one informant on how to build an explosive device, made at least five trips to the Capitol grounds to plan where it might be most effective to set off an explosive, and scoped out security measures all while in contact with multiple informants, authorities said.
New York PostJessica Bowie, a 35-year-old ISIS-inspired militant who allegedly planned a deadly attack on the New York State Capitol in Albany, contemplated future terrorist attacks.
The HillFBI foils alleged ISIS-inspired bomb plot targeting New York Capitol Federal police arrested a 35-year-old woman in connection with a plot to bomb the New York State Capitol, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court on Thursday. Prosecutors allege in the complaint Jessica Bowie, a resident of Albany, planned to bomb the building and harm officials. They say she told an informant she…
NBC NewsJessica Bowie, 35, allegedly told a confidential source that she supported ISIS and asked for help learning to make explosives, according to a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.
BreitbartA confidential source reportedly indicated to the FBI that 35-year-old Jessica Bowie of Albany had pledged support for the Islamic State and had sought out instructions on how to make explosives, per the criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.
The Daily WireJessica Bowie, 35, was charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization after allegedly communicating with an undercover FBI source posing as an ISIS facilitator and seeking assistance in carrying out an attack.
Washington ExaminerOn July 16, Bowie began communicating with a confidential informant and asked for help making explosives to “target my state capitol,” the complaint said.
ABC NewsThe FBI alleged in a criminal complaint that Jessica Bowie, 35, pledged allegiance to ISIS in online communications and began planning the attack in July. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Washington TimesFederal prosecutors charged Jessica Bowie, 35, with providing material support to a terror group in the foiled plot, which she had discussed with an FBI informant who was posing as an ISIS affiliate.
BBC NewsIt is unclear whether she plans to fight the charges. Bowie, from Albany in upstate New York, had allegedly discussed her plans with FBI informants and spent weeks with agents posing as IS members.
New York TimesWoman Arrested in Plot to Bomb New York State Capitol Federal prosecutors say the woman met with an F.B.I. informant several times to plan an attack on the building, which houses the governor’s office.
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She selected the New York statehouse in Albany because she thought it would be an easier target than the White House, prosecutors say.
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New York PostAlthough she zeroed in on the state Capitol because it was “the biggest political building that I know of around that area,” the Albany resident told the informant she would’ve preferred the “White House with the President” — but admitted “that’s an even harder job,” according to the complaint.
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During the investigation, she allegedly told agents she had converted to Islam around five years ago. She also allegedly stated that "she went from a little girl waving an American flag after 9/11 to now having stickers of the falling towers".
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New York Post“She went from a little girl waving an American flag after 9/11 to now having stickers of the falling towers,” Bowie eerily told one informant, according to the complaint.
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"I'm grateful to the FBI for leading this investigation and to the New York State Police for their work to apprehend this dangerous individual," New York Governor Kathy Hochul wrote on X.
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USA TodayNew York Gov. Kathy Hochul thanked federal and state authorities for investigating the case. The law enforcement officials included the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, New York State Police and Albany Police.
New York PostGov. Kathy Hochul thanked the FBI and law enforcement for thwarting Bowie’s possible attack in a statement Thursday.
The Daily WireNew York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul praised federal and state law enforcement for stopping the alleged plot.
The Guardian USA lawyer for Bowie could not be reached for immediate comment. Following Bowie’s arrest, the New York governor, Kathy Hochul, said the state had taken steps to strengthen security at the capitol and across government amid a rise in political violence and threats against public officials.
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“Earlier this year, amid a rise in political violence and threats against public officials, we took steps to strengthen security at the State Capitol and across state government,” the gov said.
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BBC News"Earlier this year, amid a rise in political violence and threats against public officials, we took steps to strengthen security at the State Capitol and across state government."
Associated PressGov. Kathy Hochul’s office released a statement Thursday, saying the state had taken steps earlier this year to strengthen security across state government, including at the Capitol, amid a rise nationally in political violence and threats against public officials.
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Her plan involved detonating the explosive device and then fleeing to an ISIS-controlled part of Syria, prosecutors said.
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New York PostAfter she pulled off the attack, the ISIS-inspired militant was ready to escape to Syria, according to the feds.
11 details only one outlet reported
Independent claims that didn't surface elsewhere in our corpus. Treat as supplementary — not corroborated across outlets.
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01 BBC News "I want it to have an affect on the American system," she allegedly told agents. Prosecutors say she visited the building at least five times on reconnaissance missions ahead of the attack.
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02 NBC News New video of wanted Philadelphia masked man 00:58 Delivery drones are making a splash 01:31 FBI seizes former Rep.
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03 The Guardian US The department said she was seen making visits to the state’s capitol grounds and taking photographs of the building.
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04 New York Post A converted radical Muslim who allegedly plotted an ISIS-linked bombing at the New York State Capitol also discussed future terror attacks — including one on the White House and New Year’s Eve celebrations in Times Square.
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05 Washington Examiner Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York John Sarcone praised the FBI’s work during a press conference on Thursday, adding that Bowie’s arrest should send a message to anyone being radicalized.
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06 USA Today "The American people represent an undying spirit of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness — values fundamentally opposed by foreign terrorist organizations such as the one this defendant allegedly pledged her support to," John A. Sarcone III, the first assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York, said in a statement.
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07 New York Times Hochul’s Advice for Mamdani: Focus on New York City In a wide-ranging interview, Gov. Kathy Hochul stressed the values she shares with Mayor Zohran Mamdani and talked about President Trump, taxes and ICE.
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08 Associated Press John Sarcone, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York, called the alleged plot “an attack on democracy itself and one we will not tolerate.”
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09 Washington Times She added that she wanted the attack to “have a affect on the American system. And destroy some of the taghut,” an Arabic word that Islamists use for anyone who doesn’t praise and obey Allah.
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10 The Daily Wire She was subsequently arrested. During an interview with federal agents, Bowie allegedly acknowledged that she was facing a lengthy prison sentence.
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11 Breitbart “She was arrested Wednesday by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in Albany, First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone told reporters Thursday,” reported NBC News.
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