New York: 3 Officers Injured In New Year’s Eve Machete Attack

Three New York City police officers were injured after being attacked with a machete near New Year’s Eve celebrations in Times Square, authorities said.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the incident happened just after 10 p.m. ET at West 52nd Street and 8th Avenue, just outside of the high-security zone where revelers are screened at checkpoints, officials said at a news conference early Sunday.

EDITOR’S PICKS

• US: House Of Reps Bans TikTok From Official Devices

• Supreme Court Sets Date To Pass Judgement On Biden Student Loan Forgiveness

• Russia: Domino’s Pizza Considers Selling Business

The suspect approached an officer and attempted to strike him over the head with the machete, Commissioner Keechant Sewell said. He then struck two officers in the head with the blade before being shot in the shoulder and apprehended by police, Sewell said.

The officers were hospitalized, one with a fractured skull and another with a bad cut, but were in stable condition, Sewell added. The suspect was also hospitalized, he said.

Mayor Eric Adams told the news conference that he had spoken to one of the wounded officers. “He understood that his role saved lives of New Yorkers today,” Adams said.

Multiple law enforcement officials said they were looking into whether the suspect had previously posted what they called jihadist writings online and traveled to New York to target police on New Year’s Eve.

The investigation was in its early stages but the suspect was known to law enforcement agencies for his social media postings, officials said, adding that he did not have a past criminal record.

Authorities at the news conference identified the suspect only as a 19-year-old male. Four senior law enforcement officials said that the man had been identified as Trevor Bickford from Wells, Maine.

Neither the FBI nor NYPD was on the lookout for any additional suspects, officials said.

The NYPD mounts a massive security operation every year during New Year’s Eve celebrations, with thousands of officers deployed in the area around Times Square.

Crowds are not allowed to access the blocks to see performances and the midnight ball drop without being screened at checkpoints where officers use metal-detecting wands to screen for weapons.

FURTHER READING

• Australia: British Woman Emma Lovell Killed During Break-In

• Iran: 100 Protesters Charged With Capital Offenses

• US Considers Restrictions On Chinese Arrivals

Large bags and coolers are banned from the area, while barriers are set up to prevent vehicle attacks in the secure area.

Source: NBC

Click here to watch video of the week:

---

Advertise or Publish a Story on EkoHot Blog:

Kindly contact us at [email protected]. Breaking stories should be sent to the above email and substantiated with pictorial evidence.

Citizen journalists will receive a token as data incentive.

Call or Whatsapp: 0803 561 7233, 0703 414 5611