3 cops attacked with machetes near Times Square in New York, suspect in custody

A suspect with possible links to Islamic extremism is in custody after three police officers were injured in a machete attack near Times Square on New Year’s Eve.

Cops were attacked around 10:11 p.m. Saturday at W 52nd Street and 8th Avenue outside a New Year’s Eve police checkpoint in Times Square, New York Police Department commissioner ( NYPD), Keechant Sewell. Told journalists at a press conference on Sunday.

“Without provocation, a 19-year-old man approached an officer and attempted to strike him in the head with a machete. The man then struck two other officers in the head with the machete,” Sewall said. .

One of the officers shot the suspect, hitting him in the shoulder, and he was arrested shortly after.

Two of the injured officers were taken to Bellevue Hospital, where they were found to be in stable condition. One of the injured officers, who had been with the force for eight years, suffered a laceration to the head. Another officer, who graduated from the police academy on Friday, was also struck in the head and suffered a laceration.

Another officer, who suffered unknown injuries, was taken to Mount Sinai West Hospital and is expected to recover.

The alleged suspect was later identified as Trevor Bickford, 19, of Wells, Maine, on New York Post reported, citing law enforcement sources.

Although Bickford has no criminal history, law enforcement sources told the Post that the Boston FBI had the alleged suspect on its radar, including placing him on a guardian list because of his radicalization. Additionally, Bickford’s aunt reported his radicalization to authorities because he allegedly said he wanted to fight in Afghanistan.

Other law enforcement sources told the New York Daily News that Pickford is a “radicalized terrorist”.

The NYPD released an image of the weapon used in the attack, which Commissioner Sewall described as a “large knife”.

It is the weapon which was recovered on the spot. https://t.co/Waaux2hUTt pic.twitter.com/EijU7QUgkQ

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) January 1, 2023

Bickford was also taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he is being treated for his injuries. His charges are pending, the Post Noted.

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to come forward and contact them.

You can follow Ethan Letkeman on Twitter at @EthanLetkeman.