--- description: Two women from Queens were arrested Thursday morning in connection to a plot to detonate homemade bombs in the United States. title: Two New York Women Arrested for Terrorism Plot image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd73044a293c11995/69878680cd1bba4d536f5ffc/court-house-isis-plot-arrest-ny.png?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [U.S.](/section/us/) ## U.S. Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Terrorism](/tag/terrorism/) ## Terrorism Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # 2 Women Arrested in New York for ISIS-Inspired Terror Plot  by [Tessa Berenson](/author/tessa-berenson/)  ## Tessa Berenson Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 2, 2015 5:34 PM CUT  U.S. Marshals stand outside U.S. Federal Court in Brooklyn during the arraignment on terrorism charges of two Queens women in New York City on April 2, 2015. U.S. Marshals stand outside U.S. Federal Court in Brooklyn during the arraignment on terrorism charges of two Queens women in New York City on April 2, 2015.Victor J. Blue–Getty Images  by [Tessa Berenson](/author/tessa-berenson/)  ## Tessa Berenson Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 2, 2015 5:34 PM CUT Two women and self-declared “citizens of the Islamic State” were arrested Thursday in connection to a plot to detonate homemade bombs in the United States. Noelle Velentzas and Asia Siddiqui, both of Queens, N.Y., were charged with conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction against “persons or property” in the United States, according to a news release from the Department of Justice. Velentzas and Siddiqui were arrested in the borough by undercover agents, the AP reports. Since at least August of 2014, the two women have been researching and acquiring materials to make homemade explosive devices. Most recently, the investigation revealed that one of them had a propane tank and instructions from a jihadist website for how to turn the tank into a bomb. Both women “expressed their support for violent jihad,” and Velentzas has referred to Osama bin Laden as one of her heroes, according to the news release. “We are committed to doing everything in our ability to detect, disrupt and deter attacks by homegrown violent extremists,” said U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch. “As alleged, the defendants in this case carefully studied how to construct an explosive device to launch an attack on the homeland. We remain firm in our resolve to hold accountable anyone who would seek to terrorize the American people, whether by traveling abroad to commit attacks overseas or by plotting here at home.” The defendants’ initial appearances are scheduled for the afternoon of April 2\. If convicted, both defendants face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. _Read next:_ [_Meet the Americans Who Have Joined an Iraqi Militia to Fight ISIS_](http://time.com/3761211/isis-americans-iraqi-militias/?iid=time%5Freadnext "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3769317/new-york-arrested-terrorism/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3769317/new-york-arrested-terrorism/"},"headline":"2 Women Arrested in New York for ISIS-Inspired Terror Plot","datePublished":"2015-04-02T17:34:32.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-22T05:39:49.923Z","description":"Two women from Queens were arrested Thursday morning in connection to a plot to detonate homemade bombs in the United States.","url":"https://time.com/3769317/new-york-arrested-terrorism/","keywords":["Terrorism","New York"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd73044a293c11995/69878680cd1bba4d536f5ffc/court-house-isis-plot-arrest-ny.png?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Tessa Berenson","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/tessa-berenson/"}],"articleSection":"U.S.","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd73044a293c11995/69878680cd1bba4d536f5ffc/court-house-isis-plot-arrest-ny.png?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"U.S. Marshals stand outside U.S. Federal Court in Brooklyn during the arraignment on terrorism charges of two Queens women in New York City on April 2, 2015.","caption":"U.S. Marshals stand outside U.S. Federal Court in Brooklyn during the arraignment on terrorism charges of two Queens women in New York City on April 2, 2015.","creditText":"Victor J. 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