New York woman charged with plotting to set off explosives at state
Capitol, kill lawmakers
[August 21, 2026]
By CLAUDIA LAUER
A woman who authorities said had been plotting to bomb the New York
State Capitol building because she believed laws were being passed that
were an affront to Islam was caught in an FBI sting operation and is now
facing a federal terrorism charge, authorities announced Thursday.
Jessica Bowie, 35, of Albany, had been under surveillance for more than
a month as she communicated with at least one confidential informant
posing as an ISIS facilitator, according to a criminal complaint.
Operatives working for the FBI then facilitated her plans, including
providing her with money to buy ingredients for a nail bomb. On
Wednesday, according to the complaint, the operatives handed Bowie a
gun, ammunition and an inert explosive, then gave her instructions on
how to use them.
FBI agents then arrested Bowie as she left that meeting with the weapons
in a bag, authorities said.
No attorney information was listed for Bowie. The Federal Public
Defenders’ office in Albany declined to comment Thursday.
After her arrest, Bowie told FBI agents during an interview that she
expected to go to prison, according to the criminal complaint.
“There's no helping me, you guys know enough,” she said, according to an
FBI agent's account.
John Sarcone, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of
New York, called the alleged plot “an attack on democracy itself and one
we will not tolerate.”
Court documents said Bowie had converted to Islam about five years ago.
The affidavit of probable cause said FBI counterterrorism agents saw a
number of online accounts linked back to Bowie in which she had
expressed support for terrorism in posts starting around May.
Agents began monitoring those accounts and became aware starting around
July 16 that Bowie wanted to carry out an attack on the state Capitol,
the criminal complaint said. She asked for lessons from one informant on
how to build an explosive device, made at least five trips to the
Capitol grounds to plan where it might be most effective to set off an
explosive, and scoped out security measures all while in contact with
multiple informants, authorities said.
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The New York State Capitol building is seen in Albany, New York,
June 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)
Pictures of Bowie conducting reconnaissance at the Capitol and
buying a list of bomb-making ingredients at a hardware store —
including long nails for shrapnel — were included in the affidavit.
She also arranged to buy a firearm and ammunition in order to fire
the weapon at police or security if needed, authorities said.
“Ms. Bowie did not just plan to kill lawmakers, she wanted a
complete disruption of our government,” said Craig L. Tremaroli,
special agent in charge of the FBI's Albany Field Office.
Tremaroli said she planned to flee the country after the attack, but
said she would be willing to return to launch more attacks on the
White House or on Times Square on New Year’s Eve.
The affidavit also noted Bowie had considered making Albany City
Hall a target, but had settled on the Capitol and specifically
targeted state senators because they make laws that she considered
to be offensive to Islam. The legislature has been out of session
since June.
Gov. Kathy Hochul's office released a statement Thursday, saying the
state had taken steps earlier this year to strengthen security
across state government, including at the Capitol, amid a rise
nationally 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,” she wrote.
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