Federal agents in New York have arrested an Albany woman, Jessica Bowie, over what the FBI describes as an ISIS-inspired plot to bomb the New York State Capitol, according to a report aired by ABC News. Investigators say the plan was thwarted before it could be carried out, and officials framed the arrest as a warning about the reach of online radicalization.
According to the account laid out by authorities, Bowie conducted surveillance on the Capitol on at least five separate occasions. She was allegedly seen with her cell phone photographing the building as she scouted the site, building a picture of the target ahead of any attack.
The centerpiece of the alleged scheme was a DoorDash delivery bag. The FBI says Bowie told informants she planned to use the bag to smuggle a bomb inside the Capitol, relying on the everyday appearance of food-delivery packaging to disguise the device and slip it past anyone watching.
The FBI says it first became aware of Bowie after she was active on social media, allegedly posting increasingly radical comments. According to the account of the arrest, she had gone from being described as a little girl waving an American flag after the September 11 attacks to displaying stickers of the falling towers. On May 28th, investigators say, she swore allegiance to the leader of ISIS, becoming a member of the group.
Agents then set up a sting operation. At least three undercover operatives posing as Islamic radicals made contact with Bowie, and investigators say she discussed executing the plot with them, including what she would do if she encountered police in the middle of an attack.
In those conversations, according to the FBI, Bowie requested a gun that she said she intended to use on any law enforcement officer who tried to stop her. Officials pointed to that request as an indication of how far she was prepared to go to see the plan through.
The case was detailed by ABC's Pierre Thomas. Former Homeland Security official John Cohen noted that such plots are typically carried out by men, pointing out that the overwhelming majority of mass shootings are committed by male offenders, which makes a female suspect radicalized in this way comparatively rare though not unprecedented. Officials said the arrest, coming near the 25th anniversary of 9/11, is expected to have a chilling effect on others contemplating similar attacks.