Machete Madness in Times Square! A brutal knife attack on cops outside the New Year’s Eve celebrations is under the spotlight as a potential terror act. The suspect, armed with a large machete, targeted NYPD officers in a shocking assault late Saturday night.
New York Stunned by Machete Assault on Cops
At just after 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, 19-year-old Trevor Bickford from Wells, Maine, lunged at NYPD officers stationed near the Times Square security checkpoint. Armed with a deadly machete, he swung at three police officers on Manhattan’s 8th Avenue between 51st and 52nd streets.
NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell revealed the chilling details at an overnight press briefing. Two officers were hit in the head — one suffered a nasty head laceration, while another, a recent police academy graduate, endured a fractured skull. All three wounded cops were rushed to Bellevue Hospital and are expected to survive.
Suspect’s Motive Under Terrorism Probe
Law enforcement sources say Bickford was known to feds for posting jihadist material online. Investigators are probing whether he travelled to NYC specifically to target officers during the hectic New Year’s Eve celebrations. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is now heavily involved.
“At this time, we believe this was a single individual; nothing suggests otherwise,” said Mike Driscoll, assistant director of the FBI’s New York Field Office.
High Drama Near Times Square Celebration
During the attack, at least one officer fired a shot, hitting Bickford in the shoulder. His injuries are reportedly serious but not life-threatening. Police quickly sealed off the area as panicked revellers fleeing the scene nearly sparked chaos. Despite the scare, the iconic New Year’s Eve bash carried on without interruption.
- Victims include an 8-year NYPD veteran and a recent academy graduate
- Suspect allegedly wielded a machete and swung at multiple officers
- Authorities investigating suspect’s links to jihadist content online
- The discovery fuels fears of terror threats to frontline cops
NYC remains on edge as cops and feds dig deeper into this terrifying machete attack. The Big Apple’s New Year has started with a sharp reminder of danger lurking in the shadows.
