Plus-size Muslim woman, 35, plotted ISIS bombing of NY State Capitol after scouting building in burka, FBI says

A New York woman allegedly planned to bomb the New York State Capitol and scouted the building clad in a burka ahead of the ISIS–inspired plot, the FBI said.

Jessica Bowie, 35, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with attempting to provide material support to ISIS, according to a complaint filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of New York.

Bowie, of Albany, was arrested as she ‘gained possession of what she believed to be an explosive device,’ according to a press release from the Department of Justice. She appeared in court for the first time on Thursday.

She stands accused of planning to target the New York State Capitol and New York State Senators.

Investigators learned that Bowie had intended to conduct the attack before fleeing to Syria to join others in ISIS–controlled territories, per the complaint.

She was allegedly observed making several visits to the New York State Capitol grounds and taking several photographs of the building.

A photo released by authorities showed the suspect doing reconnaissance while fully covered and dressed in what looked like a black burka.

Bowie posted messages online that included, ‘Praise be to Allah for September 11th’ and ‘When I can migrate, I will poison these infidels,’ per the complaint.

Bowie allegedly said that she wanted 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,’ she allegedly added.

Bowie also claimed that wanted to affect the ‘American system’ and ‘destroy some of the taghut,’ an Islamic term that refers to the idea of worshipping anything other than God. 

The complaint said that an FBI source posing an as ‘ISIS facilitator’ had started talking with Bowie starting on July 16.

Bowie had told them about her plans to attack the building in Albany and said she wanted help making explosives, according to the legal filing.

She also allegedly said she was an ‘Islamic State supporter’ and pledged her allegiance to the Islamic State in an audio message, per the complaint.

On July 18, Bowie allegedly began sending the FBI source pictures of the New York State Capitol.

She said she took the photos ‘from the observation hall near by’ and circled a picture of the building on yellow, per the filing.

Bowie suggested an attack ‘perhaps onna [sic] day when we know senators will be meeting,’ according to the complaint. 

Bowie allegedly said that she would ‘make it a point to have picnics by the capital to observe and [have] coffee in the observation hall,’ per the complaint.

That was allegedly so she could learn about the State Capitol building’s security, according to the complaint.

The complaint alleged Bowie ‘walked around’ the building at least five times between July 21 and August 9. 

Bowie allegedly planned to put the bomb on a bag ‘that looks like food delivery so when I place it I look like a food delivery person,’ according to the complaint.

She said she would flee to Syria after the explosion, as she insisted on her ‘desire to attack the Capitol,’ the filing continued.

Bowie met with two other informants on August 5, according to the complaint.

They explained what items she would need for the bomb and gave her $200 to buy them at a Home Depot store in Rensselaer, per the complaint.

A photo included in the complaint showed Bowie buying the items, which included a ‘large plastic bin full of nails,’ per the complaint.

She was allegedly inside the store for about 28 minutes, according to the filing.

‘I hope the nails are big enough,’ Bowie allegedly said after leaving the store, per the complaint. ‘Because the nails work as shrapnel, right?’ 

Bowie also claimed to have a ‘DoorDash bag’ that could hold the bomb and delivered the bag to the informants, the filing said.

She allegedly escalated her plot on August 13, asking the original informant if they ‘[knew] anyone who can meet me to sell me a hand gun and bullets,’ per the complaint.

Bowie was allegedly seeking ‘something powerful but easy enough to conceal’ so that she could potentially ‘shoot back’ at police officers, according to the legal document.

The complaint added that Bowie allegedly said ‘she would rather die than go to prison.’ 

Her alleged desire for a gun led to an in–person meeting on Wednesday with the same informants who gave her the $200 for the alleged bomb.

During the meeting, Bowie allegedly reiterated her desire to attack the State Capitol building and kill at least 100 people.

Upon leaving the car, Bowie was arrested by the FBI and taken to the the bureau’s field office in Albany, the complaint said.

This is a breaking news story. More to come.