US authorities said they had arrested and charged a 25-year-old American Muslim convert over an alleged attempt to launch a New Year's Eve attack in upstate New York in the name of the so-called Islamic State group.
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.
Mr Lutchman, who lives in Rochester, New York, was in contact with an individual who claimed to be an IS member in Syria and who encouraged him to carry out an attack to prove his mettle, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
He armed himself with two knives, a machete, duct tape, zip ties and ski masks - paid for by a confidential informant because he had no money - to carry out an attack on a Rochester restaurant-bar, court documents show.
Federal agents arrested Mr Lutchman, who had a history of mental health issues, yesterday, in the presence of a confidential informant.
He made an initial court appearance today.
"This New Year's Eve prosecution underscores the threat of ISIL even in upstate New York, but demonstrates our determination to immediately stop any who would cause harm in its name," said federal prosecutor William Hochul.
Mr Hochul, the US attorney for the western district of New York, said Mr Lutchman's arrest sent a message to others plotting attacks in the name of the jihadist group - "you will be caught, you will be prosecuted, and you will be punished."
Authorities said that Mr Lutchman's plot was to be carried out "on behalf of ISIL and in furtherance of his plan to join ISIL overseas," the statement said, referring to the Islamic State group by an acronym commonly used by the US government.
Mr Lutchman is a self-professed Muslim convert with a criminal history dating back nearly ten years that includes a robbery conviction, according to court documents.
He spent about five years in prison, officials said.
In New York's Times Square, where one million people were expected to gather for the traditional ball drop ceremony, thousands of police officers were deployed, including hundreds who are part of a new anti-terror force.
