Two Women in NYC (Photo : REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg)
Two women were arrested in New York City on April 2, Thursday, as they are suspected of being part of plotting the detonation of pressure cooker bombs in the area.
According to Fox News, a spokesperson from the Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed that the arrests were made but no other information has been formally announced yet. However, New York Police Department Deputy Commissioner John Miller released a statement saying that the arrest was just part of an ongoing investigation in the area.
The suspects were identified as 28-year-old Noelle Velentzas and 31-year-old Asia Siddiqui and that Valentzas reportedly looked up to the ways of Usama Bin Laden as photos and videos were stored in her cellphone when it was taken by the police officials. Both women are being held without any bail and the preliminary hearing is set on the fourth of May.
According to Reuters, the two women were former roommates and both researched on how to build explosive bombs and even had textbooks on electricity. Upon their arrest, agents also found materials such as propane gas tanks, pipes, fertilizer, and pressure cooker. They were charged with conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction against persons or property.
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Loretta Lynch said that these two women studied the supposed deadly attack as they were committed on doing the bombing. If the two are found guilty of the allegations, they can be sentenced with life in prison.
Velentzas was allegedly obsessed with pressure cookers since the Boston Marathon bombing two years ago and that the pair told an undercover agent that they wanted to explode these items somewhere in NYC.
Siddiqui is allegedly in contact with al Qaeda members while Velentzas became friends online with U.S. Air Force veteran Tairod Pugh, who is charged with attempting to aid the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria militants.
