Albany woman charged in alleged ISIS-inspired plot to attack New York State Capitol

A 35-year-old Albany woman was charged Aug. 20 with attempting to provide material support to ISIS after allegedly plotting to detonate an explosive device at the New York State Capitol and kill state senators.

Jessica Bowie, who authorities say converted to Islam about five years ago and adopted the name “Aisha Saif,” made her initial appearance in federal court Aug. 20, according to a Department of Justice (DOJ) press release. 

Federal authorities alleged in a federal criminal complaint that she intended to conceal a bomb in a DoorDash delivery bag, place it at the state’s Capitol building, and kill as many people as possible before fleeing to Syria. The DOJ said authorities arrested Bowie Aug. 19 after she took possession of what she believed was an explosive device, though the device was inert and had been supplied during the FBI investigation. 

FBI Director Kash Patel thanked the agency’s Albany Field Office in an Aug. 20 X post, saying that the FBI “is now built to act quickly with more precision than we ever have before.”

“This is just the latest example of this FBI stopping an alleged terrorist in their tracks - in 2026 we’ve already disrupted 400+ such attacks at home and around the world,” he said. “For any individual who may be considering harming Americans in the future: know that we will find you.”

According to the complaint, Bowie began discussing plans for an attack in mid-July with a confidential FBI source whom she believed was connected to ISIS. On July 16, she allegedly told the source that she wanted help making explosives and identified the New York State Capitol as her target.

“I want to destroy as much of the building as possible and kill the senators while they are meeting,” Bowie allegedly said in a July 29 message, according to the complaint. “I want them to lose alot [sic] of important documents as well.”

“I want it to have a [sic] affect on the American system,” she allegedly added. “And destroy some of the taghut.”

The FBI agent who filed the complaint described “taghut” as referring to something worshipped, followed, or obeyed instead of Allah and said Bowie was using the term in reference to the state officials.

Investigators say she then visited the Capitol grounds about five times between late July and early August, taking photographs of the building and studying security. 

According to the complaint, on Aug. 5, Bowie met with two confidential FBI sources in a car in Albany, reiterated her intent to target state senators, and directed them to a Home Depot. One of the sources gave Bowie $200, which she allegedly used to buy materials she believed would be used to build the explosive device. 

The following day, Bowie allegedly gave the sources one or more DoorDash bags that she intended to use to conceal the device.

On Aug. 19, Bowie allegedly met again with two confidential sources and paid one of them $150 for what she believed was a functioning handgun, magazine, and ammunition. The firearm was also inert. 

Bowie left the vehicle carrying the inert gun and device and was subsequently arrested by the FBI, according to the complaint. Agents also allegedly found knives and a handwritten oath of allegiance to ISIS on her.

According to the DOJ, Bowie also posted multiple anti-American and pro-ISIS messages online. On an account authorities identified as hers, she allegedly praised the Sept. 11 attacks and wrote that she wanted to “poison these infidels” once she was able to migrate.

The FBI is investigating the case, with the help of the Secret Service, New York State Police, and the Albany Police Department.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III for the Northern District of New York said in the DOJ press release that his office “looks forward to aggressively prosecuting this case and delivering justice for the American people.”

He added, “The American people represent an undying spirit of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness — values fundamentally opposed by foreign terrorist organizations such as the one this defendant allegedly pledged her support to.”