Woman Charged in ISIS Plot on NY Capitol

PHOTO CAPTION: First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III speaks during a press conference to announce the arrest of a woman accused of plotting to attack the New York State Capitol building in Albany, at the U.S. Courthouse in Albany, New York, U.S., August 20, 2026. According to a criminal complaint, Jessica Bowie, 35, allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS and planned an attack on the Capitol building. REUTERS/Cindy Schultz

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 — U.S. authorities arrested and charged a New York woman with allegedly planning an Islamic State-inspired attack on the state Capitol building in Albany, the Justice Department said Thursday.

Jessica Bowie, 35, of Albany, is accused of planning to use an explosive device at the Capitol with the intention of killing public officials and destroying “as much of the building as possible,” according to John A. Eisenberg, assistant attorney general for national security.

Prosecutors allege Bowie intended to flee afterward to territory controlled by Islamic State in Syria. She was arrested Wednesday after taking possession of what she believed was an explosive device, the Justice Department said.

Authorities said Bowie had made visits to the Capitol grounds and photographed the building. According to the Justice Department, she described the Capitol as her target and said she wanted the attack to have an “affect on the American system.”

The department also alleged that Bowie posted anti-American messages online, including comments celebrating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, when al Qaeda militants hijacked commercial aircraft and crashed them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

A lawyer for Bowie could not immediately be reached for comment.

Following the arrest, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the state had strengthened security at the Capitol and other government facilities amid an increase in political violence and threats against public officials.

“While there is no immediate threat at this time, we will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to protect New Yorkers and keep our communities safe,” Hochul said.

(Source: Reuters)