Woman charged with IS-inspired plot to bomb New York State Capitol

On Thursday, US authorities charged Jessica Bowie, 35, with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization after she allegedly expressed her desire to destroy the New York State Capitol buildings to an FBI informant. The New York State Capitol, located in Albany near the Canadian border, serves as the nerve center of the state government, housing both houses of the state legislature.

Bowie, who reportedly converted to Islam and became a vocal online supporter of the Islamic State group, allegedly posted anti-American messages, including support for the September 11, 2001 attacks. She sought guidance from an FBI informant on how to manufacture explosives, according to court filings. The woman allegedly planned to stage picnics near the Capitol to observe and learn about security measures, and she claimed to have acquired some anarchist literature at a social justice center that could provide useful tips.

Bowie mentioned her intention to destroy as much of the building as possible and kill the senators while they were meeting, with the goal of causing significant damage to important documents. She even contemplated posing as a food delivery driver to gain access to the facility and plant a bomb before fleeing to Syria. Her plan included returning to the US to target other high-profile locations, such as New York's Times Square, if her escape from Syria was successful.

After acquiring a DoorDash bag and bomb-making components, including nails for shrapnel, Bowie was arrested on August 19 by FBI agents. She allegedly told the agents, "There's no helping me, you guys know enough." Bowie was scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, but her attorney declined to comment.