NEW YORK – A 25-year-old man was arrested in New York state for allegedly intending to commit a terrorist act on New Year’s Eve, inspired by the Islamic State jihadist group, authorities said Thursday.The man was identified as Emanuel L. Lutchman of Rochester, a convert to Islam with a criminal record and mental problems, and he said he was instructed by the IS to carry out a terrorist operation.
In a communique, federal prosecutors and the FBI said that Lutchman stands accused of intending to provide material support to the IS, including aiming to murder civilians on New Year’s Eve “in the name of that terrorist organization.”
According to the criminal complaint, Lutchman said that he received instructions from an IS member located outside the United States to carry out the attack as a first step in joining that group.
Since November, he had been in contact with an informant to whom he expressed “firm support” for the IS and his desire to join the jihadist group in Syria.
According to the court document, one of Lutchman’s contacts was located in Syria and he told him he wanted to leave the United States and join the IS fight to establish a Muslim caliphate.
Lutchman last weekend sent an audio tape to another police informant in which he swore loyalty to the IS and its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
He also said that he was intending to use a pressure cooker and a machete to harm people after taking them hostage in a restaurant.
Lutchman and one of the informants bought knives, a machete, latex gloves and other items and decided to tape a video before staging the attack.
He could face a maximum prison term of 20 years on the charges against him.
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