New Year’s Eve Machete Attack Near Times Square: Suspect Charged With Attempted Murder
19-Year-Old Charged After Brutal Police Attack
Trevor Bickford, 19, faces two counts of attempted murder after a machete attack on three police officers near Times Square on New Year’s Eve. The unprovoked assault happened just after 10 pm outside the secure event zone at West 52nd Street and Eighth Avenue.
Police report Bickford struck officers repeatedly with the machete, aiming for their heads. One victim, a rookie on his very first assignment, suffered a skull fracture and a large laceration. Another, an eight-year NYPD veteran, received a head wound.
Premeditated Attack Linked to Islamic Extremism
Law enforcement sources say Bickford was on a federal watchlist, barred from international travel after his own mother tipped off the FBI about his Islamic extremist leanings. Before the attack, he reportedly shouted “Allahu Akhbar” and told police he’d take their lives.
Investigators found his backpack containing a diary stating he expected to die in the attack and asked for Islamic burial rites. Authorities believe the attack was meticulously planned, citing the purchase of the machete in Maine and large cash deposits before Bickford boarded an Amtrak train to New York.
Suspect’s Troubling Past and Police Response
Bickford’s mother alerted the FBI last month over his extremist tendencies. He was interviewed but apparently not detained. He is thought to have stayed in a park in Queens prior to the attack, with police recovering a sleeping bag tied to him. Investigators want to know if he met anyone there.
Officers Recovering; Authorities on High Alert
All three officers have since been released from hospital. The suspect remains hospitalised after being shot by police during the attack. NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell called the incident “unprovoked” and highlighted concerns about holiday terror threats, noting months of pro-ISIS chatter online advocating attacks.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force previously investigated Bickford following family reports. Federal terrorism charges may be added as the investigation continues.
