New York Isis plot: Emanuel Lutchman 'plotted machete diner attack on non-Muslims' on New Year's Eve

The FBI has charged a man with plotting a New Year's Eve machete attack on non-Muslims at a diner in New York. Emanuel Lutchman, 25, is accused of planning to kill members of the public as they celebrated the new year.

"The FBI thwarted Emanuel Lutchman's intent to kill civilians on New Year's Eve," said Special Agent Adam Cohen of the bureau's Buffalo division. "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."

Court papers claimed the ex-con had been in communication with a reputed Isis (IS) member in Syria, who instructed Lutchman to kill non-Muslims. "New years is here soon. Do operations and kill some kuffar [non-Muslim]," one message is alleged to have said.

Bureau officers say Lutchman sent an informant an audio recording of himself swearing allegiance to IS (Daesh) and its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

One million revellers are expected to descend upon New York's Times Square to see in the new year amid increased police presence. Measures have also been taken in London to beef up security – the Metropolitan Police has 3,000 extra officers on duty on New Year's Eve. In Europe the threat of a terror strike has caused events in Belgium and Paris to be cancelled.