Machete-wielding man attacks multiple NYPD officers near Times Square
Heather Hunter
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Three NYPD officers were hospitalized after a man approached them near Times Square and struck them in the head with a machete, authorities said early Sunday morning.
In the “unprovoked” attack, the officers were standing at West 52nd Street and Eighth Avenue, just outside of a security screening zone for the city’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, when the suspect, identified as 19-year-old Trevor Bickford of Maine, attacked them at 10:11 p.m. Saturday night.
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NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said the suspect approached an officer and attempted to strike him over the head with a machete. The male then struck two additional officers in the head with the weapon.
“One of the officers fired their service weapon, striking the subject in the shoulder,” the commissioner said in a press conference.
One of the officers who suffered a laceration to the head was a veteran of the police force for eight years and the second officer whose injuries included a skull fracture and large laceration had just graduated from the police academy on Friday. Officials did not elaborate on the severity of injuries of the third police officer.
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Commissioner Sewell said the three officers were moved to Bellevue Hospital, where they are reported to be in stable condition after the incident. The suspect is also being treated for his injuries at Bellevue.
“This is an ongoing investigation but we want to be very clear that there is no ongoing threat,” Mike Driscoll, the FBI assistant director in charge of the New York field office, said. “We believe this is a sole individual at this time.”
During the police press conference, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he spoke to “Paul,” the recent police academy graduate. He commended their actions: “I’m really pleased by the response and how our officers handled this situation.”
The commissioner encouraged any witnesses of the incident or anyone with any information on the suspect to contact their tip line.
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“There were a lot of people out tonight. We are asking anyone with any information to please call CrimeStoppers,” Sewell said.
Multiple law enforcement sources told the New York Post on Sunday morning that the suspect is an “alleged Islamic extremist.”