FBI Arrests Islamic State Sympathizer on Terror Charges

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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US Marines Refuse to Undertake Missions with "Robotic Mules".

WASHINGTON - United States marines have refused to go on military missions with the famous "robotic mules," designed by a Google-owned company and Pentagon with the objective of carrying heavy material for the army

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The marines do not want to go to battlefields with the robotic mules - a four legged robot capable of carrying almost 200 kg (441 pounds) - as they make "too much noise," making them incompatible with military discretion, according to the magazine Military.com Tuesday.

"As Marines were using it, there was the challenge of seeing the potential possibility because of the limitations of the robot itself. They took it as it was: a loud robot that's going to give away their position," said Marines spokesperson Kyle Olson.

In 2012, the Pentagon announced having designed the robotic mule with a carrying capacity of up to 180 kg (397 pounds) and with an ability to recharge batteries of radios and electronic military devices.

The robotic mule LS3 had been tested in different types of terrain that can be encountered during combat and also in different weather conditions including snow and rain. 

Three Cops Gunned Down by Fellow Officer at station

SAN JUAN – Three police, two of them women, were shot and killed Monday in Puerto Rico by a fellow officer during a heated argument at the Police Command in Ponce, a city on the south side of the Caribbean island.

Police reported that Lieut. Luz Soto, Maj. Frank Roman and patrolwoman Rosario Hernandez were gunned down by Candelario Rivera, a fellow officer stationed at the Ponce Police Command, in circumstances still under investigation.

The building where the Ponce Police Command is located was evacuated for security reasons after Rivera said he had planted an explosive device inside.

Explosive Division agents carried out an inspection of the building and of Rivera’s car.

Puerto Rican Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla visited the scene to find out in person what had happened.

Rivera, who was presumably on sick leave, was arrested immediately after the shooting and his two guns were seized.

The cop in custody was taken to the Ponce Drugs Division before being admitted to a nearby hospital.