Maine teen accused of attacking NYPD officers with machete on New Year’s Eve

By ERIC TUCKER, MICHAEL BALSAMO and MICHAEL R. SISAK Related Press

NEW YORK – Authorities in New York Metropolis are investigating whether or not a person who attacked three cops with a machete at a New 12 months’s Eve celebration, putting two of them, was impressed by radical Islamic extremism, in accordance with a regulation enforcement official accustomed to the matter. 

The assault occurred a bit of after 10 p.m. about eight blocks from Occasions Sq., simply outdoors the high-security zone the place revelers are screened for weapons. Two of the officers have been struck with the machete earlier than an officer shot the person within the shoulder. The 2 officers have been hospitalized, one with a fractured cranium and the opposite with a foul reduce, and have been anticipated to get well. 

Police didn’t publicly establish the 19-year-old suspect, however the regulation enforcement official recognized him to The Related Press as Trevor Bickford, of Wells, Maine. 

Investigators consider Bickford traveled to New York Metropolis earlier within the week and are inspecting whether or not he got here to New York particularly to assault cops at one of many largest New 12 months’s celebrations on the planet, the regulation enforcement official stated. 

New York Metropolis police and federal officers are nonetheless making an attempt to discern a motive, and investigators have been reviewing Bickford’s on-line postings, which included some mentions of Islamic extremist views, the official stated. The official couldn’t publicly talk about particulars of the continued investigation and spoke to AP on situation of anonymity. 

Bickford was anticipated to get well from the gunshot wound. No expenses towards him have been instantly introduced. 

Michael Driscoll, the assistant director in command of the FBI’s New York discipline workplace, stated the FBI’s Joint Terrorist Activity Power in New York Metropolis was investigating however investigators consider the attacker acted alone. 

The assault and sound of a gunshot briefly despatched some folks operating, however the festivities in Occasions Sq. continued uninterrupted.
Mayor Eric Adams stated at a information convention early Sunday that he spoke to one of many wounded officers as he was being stitched up on the hospital. 

“He was in good spirits,” Adams stated. “He understood that his function saved lives of New Yorkers at this time.” 

The NYPD mounts an enormous safety operation yearly to maintain the New 12 months’s Eve crowd secure. 1000’s of officers are despatched to the world, together with many new recruits. One of many injured officers simply graduated from the police academy on Friday, the mayor stated. 

The blocks the place the most important crowds collect to see performances and the midnight ball drop could be accessed solely by way of checkpoints the place officers use metal-detecting wands to display for weapons. Giant baggage and coolers are banned. Boundaries are set as much as forestall automobile assaults. 

The safety perimeter extends solely up to now, although. The assault occurred on eighth Avenue, which is commonly full of folks navigating across the frozen zone or looking for one of many safe entrances.
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Tucker reported from Washington and Balsamo reported from Kansas Metropolis, Missouri.