The FBI has arrested a man who it said was planning a New Year’s Eve attack in upstate New York, inspired by the Islamic State terrorist group.
Emanuel Lutchman, 25, is accused by federal authorities of plotting to attack partygoers at a restaurant-bar in Rochester on New Year’s Eve. He has been charged with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State.
Lutchman, who describes himself as a Muslim convert, has a criminal history dating to 2006, according to court documents.
He has been communicating with three paid FBI informants since November, detailing his “strong support” for the Islamic State and “his hatred for everything in America,” the FBI said Thursday, according to ABC News.
Over Christmas, he was in contact with someone he described as an Islamic State operative in Syria and asked the operative what he should do on behalf of the terror group if he could not make it to Syria, according to the court documents. The operative suggested Lutchman plan an attack for New Year’s Eve and kill “1000000s of coffer” — referring to nonbelievers, the FBI said.
On Monday, Lutchman met with one of the informants and revealed he was “getting amped to accept the fact that’s what I gotta do,” the FBI said
Later that day, Lutchman and the informant discussed placing a bomb in a club-bar and then drove past one to pick out as the target, according to the FBI. The two also discussed a plan to kidnap and then kill victims.
On Tuesday, the duo went to a Rochester Walmart to purchase supplies, including ski masks, zip-ties, a machete and duct tape, the court documents say. Lutchman was arrested Wednesday.
The FBI also seized a video Lutchman made on his cellphone taking responsibility for the would-be attack and pledging allegiance to the Islamic State.
“The FBI thwarted Emanuel Lutchman’s intent to kill civilians on New Year’s Eve,” Special Agent in Charge Adam Cohen said. “The FBI remains concerned about people overseas who use the Internet to inspire people in the United States to commit acts of violence where they live.”
Lutchman appeared in federal court Thursday morning in the Western District of New York. If convicted, he could be sentenced to a maximum 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine.
