SMF Praises FBI for Stopping Alleged ISIS Attack on New York State Capitol

WASHINGTON, DC — The Shia Muslim Foundation praises the FBI and its law enforcement partners for arresting an Albany woman accused of planning an ISIS inspired bombing of the New York State Capitol. The arrest also highlights a fact often missing from public discussion: ISIS threatens American Muslims, has planned attacks against Shia mosques in the United States and promotes teachings that American Muslims firmly reject.

ISIS does not represent Islam or American Muslims. Its ideology violates Islamic teachings on the protection of human life, places of worship and civil society. American Muslim communities have repeatedly rejected ISIS, reported suspected extremist activity and worked with law enforcement to protect the public.

The threat to American Shia Muslims is direct. ISIS considers Shia Muslims enemies and has murdered Shia worshippers across several countries. Supporters of the organization have also planned attacks against Shia mosques in America.

In November 2023, Xavier Pelkey received a 15 year federal prison sentence for conspiring with two minors to attack a Shia mosque in the Chicago area. Federal court records state that the three ISIS supporters planned to enter the mosque, separate adults from children and kill the adults using firearms, ammunition and explosives.

If police did not intervene, they planned to proceed to another Shia mosque or possibly a synagogue and continue killing people until law enforcement killed them. The FBI found homemade explosive devices at Pelkey’s residence containing staples, pins and thumbtacks intended to act as shrapnel. Pelkey pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support to terrorists.

SMF reported another alleged plot against a Shia mosque in July 2025. Authorities charged a 16 year old after he allegedly entered IEC Husaini in Glendale Heights, Illinois, during worship, recorded the building and congregation and gathered information for a planned explosive attack. Law enforcement reportedly recovered a concealed firearm and other evidence during the investigation.

These cases show that ISIS inspired violence in America threatens government officials, the general public, American Muslims and other religious communities.

Federal authorities arrested Jessica Bowie, 35, on August 19 after she accepted what she believed to be an explosive device and firearm. According to the criminal complaint, Bowie pledged allegiance to ISIS, conducted surveillance at the New York State Capitol and sought to kill state senators while they were meeting.

“Make no mistake about it, Ms. Bowie’s alleged plot was serious, it was dangerous, and thanks to the partnerships on the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, it was foiled,” said Craig Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albany Field Office.

SMF commends the FBI Albany Joint Terrorism Task Force, the United States Attorney’s Office, the Secret Service, New York State Police, Albany Police Department, Albany County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations for stopping the alleged plot before anyone was harmed.

“American Muslims reject ISIS and everything it teaches,” said Rahat Husain, Executive Director of the Shia Muslim Foundation. “ISIS has killed Muslims around the globe and has inspired plans to murder Shia worshippers here in the United States. We are grateful to the FBI agents and local officers whose work stopped this alleged attack. Protecting America from ISIS requires cooperation between law enforcement and the Muslim communities that ISIS also threatens.”

SMF calls on federal and local authorities to maintain direct communication with Muslim communities, include anti Shia extremism in threat assessments and help mosques obtain training and security resources. Reports involving ISIS propaganda, mosque surveillance, weapons or threats against worshippers must receive immediate attention.