Woman arrested in alleged ISIS-inspired plot to bomb New York Capitol

Aug 20, 2026

The FBI arrested 35-year-old Jessica Bowie of Albany, New York, on August 19, 2026, for allegedly plotting an ISIS-inspired bombing of the New York State Capitol. Authorities state that Bowie, who radicalized online, planned to hide an explosive device inside a DoorDash bag to target state senators. Under surveillance for five weeks, she was arrested after purchasing inert weapons and explosives from FBI informants. Bowie also discussed fleeing to Syria and launching future attacks on the White House and Times Square.

Albany Capitol bombing plot

▪Jessica Bowie allegedly planned to place an explosive device inside a DoorDash food delivery bag to target the New York State Capitol on a day when the maximum number of senators would be present.
▪Jessica Bowie, a 35-year-old resident of Albany, New York, was arrested on August 19, 2026, for allegedly plotting an ISIS-inspired bombing of the New York State Capitol building.
▪Jessica Bowie stated in a message to an informant on July 29, 2026, that she wanted to destroy as much of the Capitol building as possible, kill senators during their meetings, and destroy important documents.
▪Jessica Bowie was charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, specifically ISIS.

Online radicalization to ISIS

▪Jessica Bowie allegedly created multiple social media profiles to espouse anti-American messages, including a May 28, 2026 post that praised the September 11 terrorist attacks.
▪Jessica Bowie converted to Islam five years prior to her arrest, adopted the Islamic name Aisha Saif, and became radicalized online, according to federal authorities.

FBI surveillance operation

▪Jessica Bowie conducted physical reconnaissance of the New York State Capitol, taking photos from various vantage points including a nearby observation hall.
▪Jessica Bowie purchased bomb-making materials, including a large plastic bin of nails, from a Home Depot in Rensselaer on August 5, 2026, while wearing a burqa.
▪Law enforcement and the FBI tracked Jessica Bowie's activities for five weeks leading up to her arrest on August 19, 2026.

Arrest with inert devices

▪Jessica Bowie was arrested by the FBI on August 19, 2026, immediately after exiting a vehicle with an inert explosive device and an inert handgun she purchased from an informant.
▪Jessica Bowie told an informant she would quietly kill and cut her roommate if the roommate accidentally discovered her bomb components.
▪During her arrest, Jessica Bowie paid an FBI informant $150 for an inert handgun and ammunition, and an additional $200 to fund a bombmaker for future explosive devices.
▪At the time of her arrest, FBI agents recovered knives and a handwritten bayah, or oath of allegiance to ISIS, from Jessica Bowie.

Future attack planning

▪Jessica Bowie discussed launching future terrorist attacks targeting the White House and New Year's Eve celebrations in Times Square if her Capitol bombing was successful.
▪Jessica Bowie expressed a desire to return to the United States in the future to execute larger-scale operations, stating she wished she could fund a big operation.

Escape route to Syria

▪Jessica Bowie planned an escape route to Syria to flee the United States after executing the New York State Capitol bombing, according to the federal complaint.
▪Jessica Bowie told an FBI informant on August 5, 2026, that she intended to flee to Syria if the Albany Capitol attack succeeded and she managed to escape.