Who Is Jessica Bowie? Woman With Alleged ISIS Link Accused of New York Plot

0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Jessica Bowie, a 35-year-old Albany resident, is accused by federal authorities of pledging allegiance to ISIS and plotting a bomb attack on the New York State Capitol.

An FBI complaint obtained Thursday by Newsweek alleges Bowie converted to Islam about five years ago, adopted the name "Aisha Saif," maintained numerous social media accounts promoting extremist views, and spent weeks conducting reconnaissance around the Capitol.

Investigators say she discussed explosives, sought a firearm and identified lawmakers as targets before being arrested on August 19. She is charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Newsweek has reached out to the FBI and New York Governor Kathy Hochul's office via email on Thursday afternoon for comment.

Several social media accounts linked to Bowie posted messages indicating support for terrorism between May and July, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Thursday.

"Praise be to Allah for September 11th," an account linked to Bowie allegedly posted on May 28.

PDF bowie.pdf . PDF Download An account tied to Bowie also allegedly indicated intentions to "poison these infidels," the complaint states.

An FBI source posing as an ISIS operative then communicated with Bowie via encrypted message in mid-July, with Bowie discussing her plans to attack the New York State Capitol building in Albany over the course of two weeks, according to the complaint.

Bowie later conducted surveillance of the Capitol roughly five times between July 21 and August 9 and sent dozens of images of the building to an FBI informant, the complaint states.

"I want to destroy as much of the building as possible and kill the senators while they are meeting," Bowie allegedly wrote on July 29, adding she wanted to impact the "American system."

Using $200 from an informant, Bowie allegedly purchased materials to build an explosive device at a Home Depot on August 5, including nails, electrical tape, a 9-volt battery and acetone, according to the complaint.

"I hope the nails are big enough … because the nails work as shrapnel, right?" Bowie allegedly told FBI informants upon returning from the hardware store.

The informants then met Bowie on Wednesday and gave her an inert explosive device and handgun with instructions on how to detonate the bomb, according to the complaint. During the meeting, Bowie allegedly said she learned the Capitol building contained as many as 200 occupants and hoped to kill at least half of those inside.

"Bowie also told [an informant] that she went from a little girl waving an American flag after 9/11 to now having stickers of the falling towers," the complaint reads.

FBI agents then arrested Bowie following Wednesday’s meeting. She was also found in possession of knives, according to the complaint.

"There’s no helping me, you guys know enough, there’s no helping me," Bowie allegedly told FBI investigators once in custody. "I’m … going to prison for the rest of my life."

It's unclear if Bowie, who is expected to make her initial court appearance Thursday afternoon, has hired an attorney who can speak on her behalf.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul praised authorities for Bowie's arrest on Thursday, characterizing her as a "dangerous" individual.

"Earlier this year, amid a rise in political violence and threats against public officials, we took steps to strengthen security at the State Capitol and across state government," Hochul said in a statement. "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."

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