FBI arrests woman who allegedly plotted attack on New York state Capitol building

A New York woman plotted to bomb the New York State Capitol and kill state senators inside, repeatedly surveilling the building and buying materials for an explosive device before the FBI arrested her, according to a criminal complaint reviewed by Fox News Digital Thursday. Jessica Bowie, 35, of Albany, is accused of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. She converted to Islam about five years ago and began going by the name "Aisha Saif." Prosecutors say Bowie repeatedly expressed support for ISIS and its terrorist attacks to two people she believed were members of the terrorist organization, but who were in fact confidential sources working for the FBI. Beginning in mid-July, Bowie told the sources that she wanted to commit a terrorist attack in the United States, had specific plans to bomb the New York State Capitol in Albany, and wanted their assistance building an explosive device, prosecutors said. Bowie considered other targets before settling on the New York State Capitol. "Ideally it would be the White House with the president, but like, that's an even harder job," Bowie told the sources, according to court documents. On Aug. 5, Bowie purchased items necessary to construct an explosive device using $200 that one of the confidential sources gave her. On August 19, Bowie met again with the confidential sources and paid $150 for what she believed was a handgun, magazine and ammunition, investigators say. She was also shown an explosive device purportedly made from the materials she had purchased. Both the firearm and explosive device were inert. Bowie was arrested on August 19 after leaving the meeting with the inert gun and device, according to the FBI. Agents said they found knives and a handwritten pledge of allegiance to ISIS on her. Investigators say Bowie surveilled the New York State Capitol on five occasions between July 21 and Aug. 9 while communicating with the sources. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement that law enforcement intercepted the alleged plot early. "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. "There was never any active danger to our state capitol. And right now, there are no specific, credible threats against the Capitol." Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said he was briefed by the FBI on Wednesday night. "They don't believe she's a member of ISIS, but she was ISIS-inspired," Schumer said. "Mere weeks before the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, this alleged plot is a stark reminder of the enduring threat of terrorism." New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the alleged plot is "deeply alarming." "The alleged ISIS-inspired plot to attack the New York State Capitol and kill elected officials and others is deeply alarming," Mamdani said in a statement. "There is no place for terrorism or political violence in our city, our state, or anywhere in our country, and I am grateful for the law enforcement officers who work every day to keep us safe." Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department will continue to work to "identify, disrupt, and dismantle terrorist threats." Bowie made her initial appearance Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart and was remanded into custody pending further proceedings.