The U.S. FBI arrested a New York woman on charges of planning to bomb the New York State Capitol building. She held extremist views supporting terrorist groups such as the Islamic State.
Foreign news agencies reported on 20 Aug 2025 GMT+7 that the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested 35-year-old Jessica Bowie from Albany, New York, on charges of providing support to a transnational terrorist organization after discovering she planned to bomb the New York State Capitol building to kill politicians and state senators.
Bowie became the target of an FBI investigation involving undercover agents posing as members of the Islamic State (ISIS). She confessed to selecting the state Capitol as a target because it was easier to attack than the White House. She reportedly conducted at least five reconnaissance trips and planned to conceal the bomb inside an insulated food delivery bag.
Undercover agents posing as ISIS members gave her 200 U.S. dollars to buy nails from the Home Depot hardware store for use as bomb shrapnel. On Wednesday (19 Aug), Bowie was taken into custody with fake explosives, a defective firearm (supplied by the undercover agent), a knife, and a letter expressing loyalty to ISIS.
Charging documents state that Bowie converted to Islam about five years ago. She was an active social media user who frequently posted anti-American messages and praised the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks, leading to her accounts being suspended on multiple platforms. She also declared allegiance to ISIS.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed gratitude for the cooperation of the FBI and New York State Police, emphasizing that the government has continuously enhanced security measures at the Capitol and various state agencies to address the rising threat of political violence.
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Source:bbc