ALBANY, NY — A monthslong undercover investigation ended Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, with the arrest of an Albany woman accused of plotting to bomb the New York State Capitol and kill lawmakers, according to investigators and court documents.
Jessica Bowie was apprehended by law enforcement “for her actions attempting to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist organizations,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York, John Sarcone.
Investigators said the FBI operation began more than a month earlier. On July 16, Bowie, who converted to Islam five years ago, first messaged an undercover agent posing as an ISIS facilitator and said she wanted to build an explosive device and target the New York State Capitol. She also noted the Capitol was less than two miles from her home at 375 Sherman St. in Albany.
The FBI traced back her messages of violence and hate against Americans on social media and encrypted messaging apps back to May 2026.
On May 8, she messaged an unknown user saying, “When I can migrate, I will poison these infidels.”
Bowie mentioned in the messages that she does have a passport but didn’t have money for a “hijra,” which translates to “migration” in Arabic.
On May 28, she told another unknown user in Arabic, “Praise be to Allah for September 11th.” On the same day, investigators uncovered a text message and audio file of what they believe is Bowie reciting a pledge to ISIS.
By July 21, investigators said Bowie began scoping out the area. Authorities said cameras captured Bowie coming around the Capitol at least five times, taking pictures, which she sent to an undercover agent, and studying the building’s security. Investigators said she told an undercover agent she planned to have picnics and drink coffee near the Capitol to better observe security. The next day, she picked up what the criminal complaint describes as “anarchist literature” at the Social Justice Center.
By the end of July into early August, investigators said Bowie’s plan became more specific. According to the criminal complaint, she said she wanted to destroy as much of the Capitol as possible and kill as many senators as possible.
“Also in the court documents, she told the source that she went from a little girl waving an American flag after 911 to now having stickers of the fallen towers,” said Craig Tremaroli, an FBI special agent. “Folks, let that sink in.” He added, “Again, Ms. Bowie didn’t just want to kill lawmakers, she wanted a complete disruption of our government.”
On Aug. 5, two more undercover agents began communicating with Bowie, investigators said. One of them gave her $200 to spend on materials to build an explosive, authorities said. Investigators said Bowie then went to a Home Depot in Rensselaer, where she spent nearly 30 minutes buying materials, including a large bin of nails, to make an explosive device.
By Aug. 8, investigators said Bowie had chosen an exact location outside the Capitol entrance at Washington Avenue and Hawk Street. She told an agent she planned to place the explosive in a DoorDash food delivery bag and then escape to Syria, investigators said.
Authorities said they do not know the exact date Bowie planned to attack, but investigators said she told an undercover agent she planned to keep the explosive and a firearm in her home for some time. Investigators said she told the agent that if her roommate found it, she would have to kill her.
During the investigation, investigators said Bowie communicated with three different undercover agents she believed were ISIS facilitators. On the day of her arrest, investigators said she met with two of them and gave them $150 to purchase a firearm, a magazine and ammunition. One of those agents showed her how to load the firearm and gave her an inert explosive device, investigators said.
When the FBI arrested Bowie on Wednesday, investigators said they found knives and a handwritten pledge on her. She was taken to the FBI field office in Albany and is being held in Schenectady County Jail, investigators said.
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