Albany Woman Charged in Terror Bomb Plot on NY State Capitol

Federal authorities announced on August 20, 2026, that they have arrested and charged an Albany woman, Jessica Bowie, 35, with plotting an Islamic State-inspired bomb attack on the New York State Capitol building in Albany. Bowie was arrested on August 19 following an undercover FBI investigation and is charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

According to a criminal complaint, Bowie conducted surveillance on the Capitol grounds at least five times between July 21 and August 9, photographing the building and studying security measures. She communicated with FBI confidential informants, whom she believed were ISIS facilitators, detailing her plan to kill state senators by detonating an explosive device. Investigators allege Bowie stated she wanted to "destroy as much of the building as possible and kill the senators while they are meeting" to disrupt the American government.

Court documents indicate Bowie converted to Islam approximately five years ago and used multiple social media accounts to express support for terrorism, praise the September 11 attacks, and pledge allegiance to ISIS. The investigation began after FBI...