NYC 2 women accused of trying to build bomb

April 2, 2015 Tom Hayes, Associated Press and additional reporting Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Tom Hayes, Associated Press and additional reporting

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The head of the New York Police Department’s counterterrorism operation says two women have been arrested after an undercover investigation determined they were trying to build a homemade bomb.

John Miller says the public was never in danger.

He says there is evidence the women looked at Islamic State group propaganda on the Internet. But authorities say it didn’t appear they had direct contact with the group.

The women were arrested Thursday in Queens. They are expected to appear in Brooklyn federal court later today.

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UPDATE: More details of the alleged terror plot

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According to an unconfirmed report by NBC, the women were identified in court papers as 28-year-old Noelle Velentzas and 31-year-old Asia Siddiqui. The U.S. citizens who were roommates in a Queens apartment.

In February, three man were arrested on charges of plotting to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State group and wage war against the U.S., and federal officials said one of them spoke of shooting President Barack Obama or planting a bomb on Coney Island.