Federal authorities have arrested a 35-year-old woman accused of supporting ISIS and plotting to bomb the New York State Capitol in Albany, with investigators alleging that she had already obtained materials, conducted surveillance of the building and prepared to carry out the attack.
Jessica Bowie allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS and began developing plans for an attack on the Capitol in July, according to a federal criminal complaint.
Investigators allege that Bowie purchased materials that could be used to construct a bomb from a hardware store on Aug. 5. Over the following two weeks, she allegedly continued working on the planned attack while communicating and meeting with individuals who were secretly serving as FBI informants.
Bowie, who reportedly converted to Islam five years ago, is also accused of repeatedly conducting surveillance of the Capitol complex in preparation for the attack.
According to the complaint, she spent weeks monitoring the building and photographing it from several locations, including an “observation hall nearby.”
The alleged plot reached its final stages Wednesday, when FBI informants met with Bowie and provided her with an inert explosive device and an inoperable handgun, authorities said. She was also allegedly given instructions explaining how the supposed bomb could be detonated.
Because the explosive device and firearm were inert, neither could be used to carry out the alleged attack.
Federal agents arrested Bowie shortly afterward, bringing the purported plot to an end before anyone was harmed.
During a subsequent interview with FBI agents, Bowie appeared to partially acknowledge the seriousness of what she had done and the potential consequences she faced, according to the complaint.
“There’s no helping me, you guys know enough, there’s no helping me, I’m…going to prison for the rest of my life,” she allegedly said.
Bowie also indicated that she had researched the possible federal penalties before her arrest.
“Material support is up to 20 years in prison, I already Googled it before, I know I’m going to jail.”
{Matzav.com}
