Albany Woman Charged in ISIS-Inspired Terror Plot Targeting New York State Capitol

ALBANY, NEW YORK — August 20, 2026 — A 35-year-old Albany woman has been charged in federal court with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, after authorities say they disrupted a plot to attack the New York State Capitol with an explosive device and kill state lawmakers.

Jessica Bowie made her initial appearance in federal court Thursday following her arrest on August 19. According to the federal criminal complaint, Bowie intended to detonate an explosive device at the Capitol while New York State senators were meeting, cause extensive damage to the building, destroy important documents inside the Capitol, and then flee the United States for ISIS-controlled territory in Syria.

Bowie is charged with attempting to provide material support to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization. The allegations remain unproven, and Bowie is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.

Federal investigators allege Bowie had moved beyond expressing support for ISIS and had begun taking concrete steps toward carrying out an attack. Authorities say she visited the New York State Capitol grounds several times, photographed the building, acquired items she believed were necessary for constructing an explosive device, and discussed how she wanted the attack to affect both lawmakers and the operation of state government.

On August 19, law enforcement apprehended Bowie as she gained possession of what she believed was an explosive device intended for use against the New York State Capitol and New York State senators, before the alleged attack could be carried out.

Investigators allege Bowie specifically identified the New York State Capitol as her intended target and said she wanted to destroy as much of the building as possible while senators were meeting. She also allegedly expressed a desire to kill the lawmakers and destroy important documents inside the Capitol as part of an attack intended to affect the American governmental system.

The complaint states that Bowie conducted reconnaissance of the Capitol before her arrest. She allegedly made repeated visits to the grounds and took photographs of the building while preparing for the proposed attack.

Authorities also documented Bowie purchasing items they allege were connected to her preparations for an explosive device. Federal investigators intervened before the alleged attack could be carried out.

The alleged Capitol plot was not the only activity investigators attributed to Bowie.

According to the complaint, Bowie intended to leave the United States following the attack and travel to Syria to join individuals in ISIS-controlled territory. Investigators also allege she had expressed support for ISIS through online communications and had circulated extremist statements to others.

One online account identified by investigators as belonging to Bowie contained messages praising the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and threatening to poison people she characterized as enemies. Federal authorities also allege Bowie recorded and distributed her “Bayah,” a formal oath of allegiance to ISIS.

The complaint alleges Bowie formally pledged allegiance to ISIS, identified the New York State Capitol as her proposed target, conducted reconnaissance of the Capitol grounds, obtained items connected to preparations for an explosive device, gained possession of what she believed was an explosive device, and intended to travel to ISIS-controlled territory in Syria following the planned attack.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said the complaint alleges Bowie planned to deploy an explosive device against the New York State Capitol with the intent to kill public officials and destroy a substantial portion of the building before fleeing to Syria.

Eisenberg said the National Security Division and federal law-enforcement partners remain focused on identifying terrorist plots before they can be carried out and prosecuting individuals accused of attempting such attacks.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III for the Northern District of New York credited the FBI and participating law-enforcement agencies with identifying and disrupting the alleged plot before Bowie was able to act against the Capital Region or the United States. Sarcone said his office intends to aggressively prosecute the case.

FBI National Security Branch Operations Director Matt Fodor said the FBI detected and stopped an alleged plan to attack the New York State Capitol and kill elected officials. Fodor said the complaint alleges Bowie swore allegiance to ISIS and wanted to carry out additional acts of terrorism after the proposed Capitol attack.

Fodor also credited the FBI Albany Field Office, federal prosecutors, and participating law-enforcement partners for the investigation, emphasizing coordination between agencies as a central component of preventing terrorism inside the United States.

The investigation is being conducted by the FBI with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service, New York State Police, and Albany Police Department.

Trial Attorney Ryan D. White of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Belliss and Joseph Hartunian for the Northern District of New York are prosecuting the case.

The allegations describe an investigation that federal authorities say progressed from extremist communications and an oath of allegiance to physical surveillance of an identified government target and preparations for an explosive attack. Law enforcement intervened before the alleged attack could be carried out.

Bowie has been charged, not convicted. The criminal complaint represents allegations by the government, and prosecutors must prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt for a conviction.

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