NEW YORK — The 19-year-old accused of attacking three police officers with a machete on New Year's Eve near Times Square has been charged with two counts of attempted murder of a police officer and two counts of attempted assault.
Trevor Bickford, from Wells, Maine, allegedly attacked the officers unprovoked after taking a train to the city on Dec. 29, 2022. His alleged assault came weeks after the suspect was placed on a federal watchlist that would have prevented him from traveling overseas after his mother informed the FBI about her son's gravitation toward Islamic extremism, law enforcement sources told ABC News.
The knife was purchased in Maine, where Bickford also withdrew thousands of dollars in cash at some point before taking Amtrak to New York. The withdrawal and the purchase suggest premeditation, sources said. Bickford was allegedly placed on a federal watchlist that would have prevented him from traveling overseas, but there was nothing to prevent him from boarding an Amtrak train to New York on Dec. 29, the sources told ABC News.
Sewell said the attack was"unprovoked" and that Bickford attempted to strike one officer over the head with the machete.One of the officers fired their weapon, striking the suspect in the shoulder, according to Sewell. The suspect was then taken into custody. The rookie was also struck in the head, resulting in a skull fracture and large laceration, officials said.
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