FBI thwarts an alleged ISIS-inspired plot to bomb New York Capitol

An Albany, New York, woman who was in contact with people she believed were ISIS members was arrested this week after she allegedly bought bomb-making materials and plotted to blow up the New York State Capitol and kill state senators, according to a federal criminal complaint. 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. Craig Tremaroli, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Albany field office, said at a news conference Thursday that investigators began looking into Bowie after learning of social media accounts linked to her expressing support for ISIS. The investigation started over a month ago, he said. Bowie converted to Islam about five years ago and created multiple social media accounts under Islamic names because she was frequently suspended by providers for violating their terms of use, the complaint says. One of the confidential sources gave Bowie $200 to purchase bomb-making materials, which she is alleged to have done Aug. 5 at a Home Depot, according to the complaint. In recorded and documented meetings, Bowie said she conducted surveillance of the Capitol five times between July 21 and Aug. 9 and sent photos of the building to someone she believed was an ISIS member, the complaint says. "Miss Bowie didn't just want to kill lawmakers; she wanted a complete disruption of our government. And after that, she planned to flee the country and one day come back to 'do more,' such as New Year's Eve in Times Square, even stating she would come back to attack the White House and the president," Tremaroli said Thursday. Bowie told an undercover employee she wanted to attack the Capitol because it was less than 2 miles from her home, was a softer target than the White House and would have an effect on the American system, according to the complaint. "Ideally it would be the White House with the president, but like, that's an even harder job," Bowie allegedly said. Bowie also allegedly said she wanted to obtain a gun "so if the cops do get towards me during the operation I can shoot back." Bowie is expected in court Thursday afternoon on a single charge of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervised release. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement that she was briefed on the investigation and thanked law enforcement. "Political violence has no place in our state and I have directed state police to provide enhanced security at the Capitol moving forward," Hochul said.