Police probe motive in machete attack on officers near Times Square

Authorities in New York City are investigating whether a man who attacked three police officers with a machete at a New Year’s Eve celebration, striking two of them, was inspired by radical Islamic extremism, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the matter.

The attack happened a little after 10 p.m. about eight blocks from Times Square, just outside the high-security zone where revelers are screened for weapons. Two of the officers were struck before an officer shot the man in the shoulder. The two officers were hospitalized, one with a fractured skull and the other with a bad cut, and were expected to recover.

Police did not publicly identify the 19-year-old suspect, but the law enforcement official identified him to The Associated Press as Trevor Bickford, of Wells, Maine.

Investigators believe Bickford traveled to New York City earlier in the week and are examining whether he came to New York specifically to attack police officers at one of the largest New Year's celebrations in the world, the law enforcement official said.

New York City police and federal officials are still trying to discern a motive, and investigators have been reviewing Bickford's online postings, which included some mentions of Islamic extremist views, the official said. The official could not publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.

Bickford was expected to recover from the gunshot wound. No charges against him were immediately announced.

[JD-ejzm]

I thought they banned assault weapons??

[roringusanda]

He is a new convert to "the prophet of the peaceful religion"...and so of course, his first act was to buy a machete (or kukri) and head out to find a crowd of happy people of a different faith, to let them experience the "peace of the prophet".😒🙄

[ron]

I bet it was a new years resolution thing

[painkillerjones]

A new years resolution to cut down on gun violence has made the difference!!

[moohammadaisha]

I wonder which one religion regularly inspires someone to commit acts of violence on people peacefully celebrating. We are even censored for stating the obvious

[leggomyeigonosensei]

Wow, it's so sad to see how the fast life has destroyed and brought out the worst in Pete Davidson.