Three New York Metropolis cops have been injured after being attacked with a machete close to New 12 months’s Eve celebrations in Occasions Sq., authorities mentioned.
The incident occurred simply after 10 p.m. ET at West 52nd Road and eighth Avenue, simply exterior of the high-security zone the place revelers are screened at checkpoints, officers mentioned at a information convention early Sunday.
The suspect approached an officer and tried to strike him over the top with the machete, Commissioner Keechant Sewell mentioned. He then struck two officers within the head with the blade earlier than being shot within the shoulder and apprehended by police, Sewell mentioned.
The officers have been hospitalized, one with a fractured cranium and one other with a nasty lower, however have been in steady situation, Sewell added. The suspect was additionally hospitalized, he mentioned.
Mayor Eric Adams instructed the information convention that he had spoken to one of many wounded officers. “He understood that his function saved lives of New Yorkers at present,” Adams mentioned.
A number of regulation enforcement officers instructed NBC Information they have been wanting into whether or not the suspect had beforehand posted what they referred to as jihadist writings on-line and traveled to New York to focus on police on New 12 months’s Eve.
The investigation was in its early levels however the suspect was recognized to regulation enforcement companies for his social media postings, officers mentioned, including that he didn’t have a previous prison report.
Authorities on the information convention recognized the suspect solely as a 19-year-old male. 4 senior regulation enforcement officers instructed NBC Information that the person had been recognized as Trevor Bickford from Wells, Maine.
Neither the FBI nor NYPD was looking out for any further suspects, officers mentioned.
The NYPD mounts a large safety operation yearly throughout New 12 months’s Eve celebrations, with hundreds of officers deployed within the space round Occasions Sq..
Crowds should not allowed to entry the blocks to see performances and the midnight ball drop with out being screened at checkpoints the place officers use metal-detecting wands to display screen for weapons.
Giant luggage and coolers are banned from the world, whereas obstacles are set as much as stop car assaults within the safe space.
Related Press and Alex Lo contributed.