New York City Bomb Plot: 2 Women Arrested

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Officials have arrested two women who were reportedly planning a bomb plot in New York City. The two women were said to have been “inspired” to detonate the bomb by the Islamic State (ISIS).

Details on the New York City plot

ABC News reports that the FBI has been running an undercover operation for quite some time. Investigators emphasized that New York City was never in any real danger because they derailed the plot early in the planning stages.

Investigators believe that ISIS played a role in their decision to plan a bombing in New York City based on their online activities. ABC reports that the names of the women who were arrested are Noelle Velentzas, 27, and Asia Siddiqui, 31. Both are from Jamaica, Queens.

Investigators said the two women were attempting to build an improvised explosive device. It remains unclear just how far in the process they were, although ABC reported that Siddiqui currently possesses “multiple” propane tanks and directions explaining how to turn those tanks into bombs.

U.S. citizens trying to join ISIS

The list of people being arrested for allegedly trying to join ISIS has been growing rapidly, and noticeably included on the list are some members and former members of the U.S. military. Last week, authorities arrested a pair of cousins, one of whom is an Illinois National Guard member. The cousins were accused of planning attacks inside and outside the U.S. in support of ISIS.

Also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force was recently indicted on charges of attempting to join ISIS. Officials reportedly found over 180 jihadist videos on his computer and said his other online activities also suggested that ISIS may have influenced him. Among his internet searchers were the phrases “kobani border crossing,” “borders controlled by Islamic state” and “who controls kobani.”

In the last year and a half, authorities have filed charges against approximately 30 people for either joining or trying to join terrorist organizations in Iraq or Syria.

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