US charges woman with Isis-inspired plot to blow up New York State Capitol

US authorities have charged Jessica Bowie, 35, with a terrorism offense for allegedly attempting to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist organizations. Bowie, who reportedly converted to Islam and became an online supporter of the Islamic State group, told an FBI informant she wanted to destroy the New York State Capitol building in Albany. Court filings indicate she sought guidance on manufacturing explosives and planned to observe security measures at the Capitol. The charges were announced on Thursday.

Federal authorities have arrested Jessica Bowie, 35, for allegedly plotting an attack on the New York State Capitol. The FBI claims Bowie obtained an explosive and pledged loyalty to ISIL, intending to destroy as much of the capitol as possible before fleeing to Syria. She is charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization. The complaint outlines Bowie's alleged support for terrorism on social media, including a post praising the September 11th attacks. An FBI informant reportedly communicated with Bowie, who expressed a desire to make a bomb and identified the state capitol as her target.

An Albany woman, Jessica Bowie, 35, has been charged with a federal terrorism offense for allegedly plotting to bomb the New York state Capitol building and kill lawmakers. Authorities stated Bowie, who converted to Islam five years ago, believed certain laws were an affront to Islam. She was under FBI surveillance for over a month, communicating with informants posing as ISIS facilitators, and reportedly sought instructions on building explosives and conducted reconnaissance at the Capitol. The FBI foiled the plot weeks before the 9/11 anniversary. Bowie also allegedly planned to acquire a firearm and ammunition. Governor Kathy Hochul's office stated that security measures have been strengthened in response to rising political violence.

Russia has arrested a German woman who was found with a homemade bomb in her backpack, allegedly linked to a plot to blow up a security services facility in southern Russia. The arrest is part of a broader pattern of high-profile arrests of Western citizens on espionage charges since Moscow's troop deployment into Ukraine. This marks the latest incident in a series of arrests targeting individuals suspected of working for Ukraine to carry out sabotage attacks. The German woman was reportedly carrying the bomb in her backpack at the time of her arrest. Russia has made dozens of similar arrests over the past four years, mostly involving its own citizens. The charges against the German woman have not been independently verified.