New Year’s Eve Machete Mayhem Near Times Square: Suspect Charged with Attempted Murder
Trevor Bickford Charged After Brutal Police Attack
A 19-year-old Maine man has been charged in connection with a terrifying machete assault on three NYPD officers near Times Square on New Year’s Eve. Trevor Bickford faces two counts of attempted murder of a police officer and two counts of attempted assault.
The attack, which happened just after 10pm on December 31st near West 52nd Street and Eighth Avenue, was “unprovoked,” according to New York Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell. Bickford allegedly tried to smash one officer over the head with a machete, then struck two more officers in the head with the deadly weapon.
Pre-Planning and Alarming Warnings
- Bickford allegedly picked up the machete in Maine before travelling by Amtrak to New York on December 29.
- He withdrew thousands in cash ahead of the trip, indicating clear premeditation.
- His mother reported concerns about his Islamic extremism leanings to the FBI weeks before the attack.
- Despite being on a federal watchlist that should have barred overseas travel, Bickford made it to New York unhindered.
- At the scene, police found his backpack containing a diary. The suspected extremist’s final entry admitted he expected to die and asked for an Islamic burial.
Motivations and Aftermath
Investigators say Bickford shouted “Allahu Akbar” and took a sip of water before launching the machete attack, signalling an extremist motive. He is still recovering in Bellevue Hospital after police shot him during the incident.
Three officers were hurt in the attack. One is an eight-year NYPD veteran with a head laceration. Another was a rookie officer on his first assignment, who suffered a skull fracture and serious head wounds.
Bickford reportedly slept in Forest Park, Queens, in a remote area before the attack, leaving police curious if he planned to meet others.
Terror Threats and Ongoing Investigations
Authorities revealed that in December, pro-ISIS supporters called for low-tech attacks around New Year’s. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force had already been investigating Bickford after tips from his family but no federal terrorism charges have been filed yet.
Meanwhile, the three officers involved in the machete attack have been discharged from hospital and are expected to recover.
