Two New York City Women Arrested in Alleged Terrorist Bomb Plot
Federal authorities arrested two women in New York City described as "homegrown terrorists" on Thursday.
According to a federal criminal complaint, Noelle Velentzas, 28, and Asia Siddiqui, 31, were arrested for allegedly plotting to build a bomb and wage a "terrorist attack" in the United States.
Although NYPD Deputy Commissioner John Miller confirmed the arrests were part of a local and federal investigation, details about the alleged plot were not immediately available.
"What I can confirm is that arrests were made by the JTTF and NYPD in a national security investigation earlier this morning in New York City," he said, according to Fox News.
The complaint reveals that the suspects devised a plot to target police, government or military personnel based on their "violent jihadist beliefs," according to the complaint, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn.
It also states that Velentzas praised al Qaeda's Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and idolized Osama Bin Laden.
"The investigation has revealed that Velentzas espouses violent jihadist beliefs and has repeatedly expressed an interest in terrorist attacks committed within the United States," reads the complaint.
The two women, who lived together in Queens, researched how to build an explosive device for their attack, it stated. The women also voiced support for the Islamic State.
The suspects were charged with conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction against persons or property in the United States during their appearance before Judge Viktor Pohorelsky on Thursday afternoon. The federal judge also ordered that they be held without bail and set a preliminary hearing for May 4.
If convicted, they both could face the possibility of life in prison.
"We are committed to doing everything in our ability to detect, disrupt and deter attacks by homegrown violent extremists," Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch, who is President Obama's nominee for U.S. attorney general, said in a statement, reports Reuters.
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