NY woman sentenced to 15 years for attempting to build a bomb for terrorist attack

A New York woman was sentenced to 15 years in prison Thursday for attempting a terrorist attack and planning to build a bomb, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). 

Prosecutors said Asia Siddiqui was “inspired by radical Islam” when she planned to build a bomb and use it in a terrorist attack against law enforcement and military targets. 

Siddiqui and her co-defendant Noelle Velntzas pleaded guilty in August to a charge of teaching or distributing information pertaining to the making and use of an explosive, destructive device or weapon of mass destruction in furtherance of a planned federal crime of violence, DOJ said in a statement. Velentzas is awaiting sentencing. 

“With the sentence imposed by the court, Siddiqui has been held accountable for her crimes,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Demers “Inspired by radical Islam, Siddiqui and her co-defendant researched and taught each other how to construct bombs to be used on American soil against law enforcement and military targets.”

Between 2013 and 2015, Siddiqui and Velentzas taught each other chemistry and electrical skills related to creating explosives and conducted research on how to make plastic explosives and to build car bombs, according to DOJ. 

Officials said Siddiqui and Velentzas discussed using devices like those from past terrorist attacks in the U.S. such as the Boston Marathon bombing, the Oklahoma City bombing and 1993 World Trade Center attack. 

Law enforcement officers seized propane gas tanks, soldering tools, car bomb instructions, jihadist literature, machetes and several knives at their residences when arresting the women, according to the DOJ release.