ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — Federal authorities say a New York man has been arrested on charges he was planning a New Year’s Eve attack at a bar to prove to the Islamic State he was worthy to join it in Syria.
Prosecutors announced Thursday that 25-year-old Emanuel Lutchman, of Rochester, has been charged with attempting to provide material support to terrorists. They say he was snared in an FBI sting.
A federal complaint says Lutchman is a self-professed convert to Islam who claimed to receive direction from an overseas Islamic State member and planned to carry out an attack at a bar in the Rochester area on Thursday.
The FBI says Lutchman had an accomplice who was actually working for the agency. It says they bought knives and a machete for the attack.
Lutchman was arrested Wednesday. It’s not immediately clear who represented him at an initial court appearance.
