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Bowie plot foiled
Federal prosecutors say Jessica Bowie, 35, was arrested by the FBI on Wednesday after she allegedly plotted to attack the New York State Capitol building in Albany, and she was charged with attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
“Jessica Bowie, 35, pledged allegiance to ISIS in online communications and began planning the attack in July”
ABC News reported that the FBI alleged Bowie pledged allegiance to ISIS in online communications and began planning the attack in July, and it said she converted to Islam about five years ago.
In the criminal complaint described by ABC News, Bowie allegedly told informants, "I want to destroy as much of the building as possible and kill the senators while they are meeting, I want them to lose a lot of important documents as well," and the FBI said she bought bomb materials from a hardware store on Aug. 5.
Craig L. Tremaroli, the special agent in charge of the FBI Albany Field Office, told reporters at a news conference Thursday that "Ms. Bowe's alleged plot was serious, it was dangerous and thanks to the partnerships of the FBI's joint terrorism task force, it was foiled."
Hochul and FBI speak
At a press conference described by NEWS10 ABC, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI discussed the arrest of Bowie, and NEWS10 ABC said the FBI arrested her on August 19 on charges of attempting to provide material support to ISIS.
NEWS10 ABC quoted Gov. Kathy Hochul saying, "I’m grateful to the FBI for leading this investigation and to the New York State Police for their work to apprehend this dangerous individual," and it also repeated her statement that "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."
The criminal complaint described by ABC7 Los Angeles said Bowie spent weeks doing surveillance of the Capitol, including taking pictures from various vantage points, and it cited an "observation hall nearby" among the locations she photographed.
ABC7 Los Angeles also reported that Bowie allegedly told informants, "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," after being interviewed by FBI agents.
What authorities say comes next
Fox News Digital said Bowie’s alleged plans extended beyond the New York State Capitol and included ambitions to carry out additional violence after fleeing the country, including an attack in Times Square on New Year’s Eve and discussion of attacking the White House and the president.
“"She didn’t just want to kill lawmakers. She wanted a complete disruption of our government,"”
Fox News Digital quoted Craig Tremaroli saying, "She didn’t just want to kill lawmakers. She wanted a complete disruption of our government," and it also quoted Tremaroli describing ISIS as "one of the most vicious organizations" intent on killing Americans.
NBC News reported that Bowie allegedly told a confidential source she wanted help learning to make explosives, and it said the complaint alleges she communicated between July 16 through August 17 with the source posing as an ISIS facilitator.
NBC News also quoted Sarcone warning that "today’s announcement will have a chilling effect on anyone in this country who is being radicalized or considering acts of violence, and on our enemies whose governments support death to America," as the investigation continued and Bowie was expected in court on a single charge.
