Two women have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in terrorism, after an undercover investigation concluded that they were attempting to build a “homemade bomb.”
While the women apparently “looked at” propaganda posted online by Islamic State, the violent jihadist outfit controlling parts of Syria and Iraq since last year, reports quoted authorities saying that they did not appear to have any “direct contact with the group.”
The women, identified as Noelle Velentzas and Asia Siddiqui, respectively in their 20s and 30s, were said to be roommates living in the Queens neighbourhood of New York City, and were allegedly looking to build an improvised explosive device with propane tanks.
With signs pointing to a sting operation by counterterrorism officers, it was as yet unclear how far along their bomb plan had progressed.
However, the public was never in any danger, law enforcement officials said, and their arrest in Queens on Thursday was “without incident.”
