Suspected Islamic State Backer Held For New York Attack Plot

Emanuel Lutchman was charged with attempting to provide material support to the IS group, the Justice Department said – a charge that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Lutchman allegedly received direction from an ISIS member overseas and planned to attack revelers in order to join ISIS. But he says his awareness is raised, just like everyone else, and not just as a Muslim, but as a Rochestarian.

According to the criminal complaint, an individual in Syria instructed Lutchman to “do operations” and “kill 1000000s of kuffar” in order to prove his allegiance.

On Dec. 28, he allegedly told an informant he wanted to sneak a bomb into a club or bar, kidnap a couple of people and kill them.

His father, Omar Lutchman, told NBC News his son had been plagued by mental problems since childhood, was struggling with his marriage and finding a job, and could not have carried out an attack on his own.

Federal investigators have not said which bar Lutchman was planning on targeting with his attack.

“He planned to kill innocent civilians on New Years Eve in the name of the terrorist organization.”.

While authorities didn’t identify the target, a co-owner said it was Merchants Grill, a neighborhood sports pub.

Lutchman was arrested by police Wednesday for allegedly planning an attack on a bar in Rochester, N.Y., but it was not apparent until later which establishment he was targeting.

Lutchman appeared in US District Court for the Western District of NY yesterday.

It was the second time in the past 17 months that a man in Rochester has been arrested on terror charges related to IS. Elfgeeh, 32, was arrested previous year and accused of recruiting for ISIS. “I assure members of the public that the excellent work of our law enforcement partners with the cooperation of the public is the best way to ensure the safety of our community”.

“The arrest of Emanuel Lutchman is an important reminder of the new normal of global terrorism”, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O’Flynn, whose department was involved with the local terrorist task force, says people going out to enjoy themselves this weekend should not be anxious, but they should always report anything that looks suspicious to police.

Other celebrations, including an ice skating event, will go ahead as planned in the city and Warren said there was no direct threat to the public. A minute later, the city then added that “festivities inside the Convention Center and at MLK ice rink are still on for tonight”.