In brief
New York officials say the FBI seized a woman who had been scouting the statehouse for months, allegedly intending to detonate a makeshift bomb and kill lawmakers. Prosecutors allege she pledged support to the Islamic State and used undercover agents to buy bomb‑making materials at a local hardware store. She also used social media to spread anti‑American rhetoric and praise the 9/11 attacks. A governor praised the cooperation of state police and the FBI, noting heightened security measures after the arrest.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced on Tuesday that a 35‑year‑old woman from Albany, New York, was detained after authorities uncovered a scheme to detonate a homemade bomb inside the New York State Capitol. Prosecutors say the suspect had previously pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and was accused of providing material support to the extremist organization.
Investigators report that the woman routinely walked past the capitol, studying the building’s layout and security measures. She allegedly told undercover agents that she wanted “to destroy as much of the building as possible and kill the senators.” The authorities furnished her with a fake bomb and a defective weapon and drove her to a local hardware store where she purchased nails that could be used as shrapnel.
During her surveillance trips she also brought a food‑delivery bag—the same model she used to hide a makeshift explosive—onto witness teams. The complaint highlights an image of the bag that was shown to the agents. The woman was found in possession of knives and a handwritten oath of allegiance to the Islamic State.
The suspect’s online presence suggests she was an active social media user spreading anti‑American messages. Her accounts were reportedly banned from several platforms for praising the 9/11 attacks.
Governor Kathy Hochul expressed her approval of the FBI and New York State Police for the arrest, saying the action was part of a broader initiative to strengthen security in response to recent spikes in political violence.
The arrest is expected to further the investigation into the extent of the woman’s network and the mechanisms used for radicalization.
Image: Woman with shopping trolley seen buying bomb‑making parts at a hardware store. Source: DOJ/FBI
Image: Albany Statehouse. Source: Getty Images
