Federal authorities charged 35-year-old Jessica Bowie with attempting to provide material support to ISIS after she allegedly sought help making explosives and discussed attacking the New York State Capitol in Albany.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Federal authorities arrested a 35-year-old New York woman accused of supporting ISIS and plotting an attack involving explosives against the New York State Capitol building in Albany, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court.
Jessica Bowie is charged with one count of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization after allegedly discussing her support for ISIS with a confidential source and asking for assistance learning how to make explosives.
Between July 17 and Aug. 17, Bowie allegedly told the confidential source that she wanted to do something to “harm the enemies of god,” according to the complaint.
Federal investigators allege that the proposed target was the New York State Capitol, which was located approximately two miles from Bowie’s residence.
NBC News reported Thursday that Bowie had allegedly expressed support for ISIS and sought assistance obtaining the knowledge needed to manufacture explosives.
“A woman has been charged with providing support to a terror group after allegedly plotting an ISIS-inspired attack on the New York State Capitol building in Albany, federal officials said Thursday,” NBC News reported.
The criminal complaint also describes Bowie’s online activity as part of the federal investigation.
According to investigators, Bowie converted to Islam approximately five years ago and subsequently created several social media accounts using an Islamic honorific name.
Authorities said the accounts contained expressions of support for Islamic terrorism and were repeatedly removed by social media companies.
The complaint stated that Bowie apparently created multiple accounts because they were “frequently suspended by providers for violating their terms of use.”
Federal officials allege Bowie’s activities moved beyond online expressions of support when she began communicating with the confidential source about ISIS and explosives.
“Jessica Bowie, 35, allegedly told a confidential source that she supported ISIS and asked for help learning to make explosives, according to a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York,” NBC News reported.
Bowie was expected to appear in federal court Thursday afternoon on the material-support charge.
The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.
Federal and state authorities also scheduled a press conference for 3 p.m. Eastern Time Thursday to discuss the investigation and charges.
The accusations contained in the criminal complaint remain allegations, and Bowie has not been convicted of the charge against her.
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