New York man charged with plotting New Year's Eve attack

US authorities have arrested a man described as a supporter of so-called Islamic State (IS) and accused him of planning an attack in New York State.

Emanuel Lutchman, 25, from Rochester, is charged with plotting to kill people at a restaurant on New Year's Eve.

Mr Lutchman told an FBI informant he would use a machete and knives in the attack, officials say.

Before his arrest, he made a video pledging allegiance to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the FBI said.

Mr Lutchman came to the attention of authorities after he began expressing support for IS online.

"I will take a life, I don't have a problem with that," Mr Lutchman is quoted as saying in court documents.

Image copyrightGetty Images

Image captionMr Lutchman had sought to join the so-called Islamic State in Syria

A convert to Islam, he has a history of mental illness and lengthy criminal record, officials said.

Authorities in major US cities such as New York and Los Angeles are on high alert for an attack during well-attended New Year's Eve festivities.

New York has deployed about 6,000 police officers to patrol Times Square, which is expected to draw about a million people.