NY ex-con charged with planning New Year’s Eve bar attack

A statement during an initial court appearance Thursday morning says Emanuel Lutchman, 25, was charged with attempting to provide material support to IS.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Carlin says Lutchman “planned to kill innocent civilians” as a way to support the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

It remains to be seen if Lutchman’s arrest was “the excellent work” of law enforcement, as U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. of the Western District of NY said.

The FBI said Lutchman had pledged allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and was in contact with an ISIS affiliate in Syria who encouraged him to kill non-Muslim civilians.

“That’s what my plan, that’s on my mind, that’s all I been thinking about”, the Rochester-based ISIS supporter had reportedly told his “accomplice”.

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.

The individual described life in Isil as a “dream come true”, and asked if Lutchman knew anyone within Isil who would be willing to vouch for him if he travelled to Syria, according to the documents. Lutchman said he didn’t have money for weaponry, but suggested they use knives for the attack.

Emanuel Lutchman has officially been charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS. Lutchman was arrested on Wednesday.

Lutchman has a criminal history that dates back to 2006, including a NY state conviction for second-degree robbery. “I’m ready to lose my family”, Lutchman allegedly told an informant.

In response to the continued threat of terrorism both Paris and Belgium cancelled New Year’s firework displays.

In his conversations with the informants, Mr Lutchman allegedly discussed using pressure cooker bombs or knives in an attack meant to impress his ISIS handlers, the complaint said. He also proposed to kidnap and kill “a couple of people”, Sky News reports. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the state is taking every precaution to keep people safe.

“The challenges of law enforcement have never been greater and it is incumbent upon every citizen to be diligent and responsible, because again, it can be anywhere and anytime”, he said.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Rochester Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF).