The suspect told police he shouted 'Allahu Akbar' before attacking the NYPD officers with a knife, sources said.
Trevor Bickford, 19, is expected to be arraigned on attempted murder charges. Johny Fernandez reports.has made statements to investigators that strengthen the belief the attack was motivated by Islamic extremism, law enforcement sources told ABC News.
Upon arrival in New York the suspect made a large donation with the cash to the Bowery Mission, which investigators believe was meant to satisfy a Muslim tenet of charity. One officer suffered a fractured skull, another was treated for a bad cut. One is an eight-year veteran, and one of the others is a rookie officer who just graduated from the police academy on Friday.RELATED: Chicago-area terrorist's attempt to retract guilty plea stopped by federal judgeThe attack and sound of a gunshot briefly sent some people in the crowd running, but the incident did not impact the festivities in Times Square, which continued uninterrupted.
The attack is also being investigated as a possible incident of terrorism because of online postings Bickford made before the attack. According to sources, the mother and aunt of Trevor Bickford notified law enforcement in recent weeks about their concerns he was gravitating toward dangerous Islamist ideologies.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
3 New York City officers injured, suspect shot near New Year's Eve ball dropA man with a machete attacked three New York City police officers not far from the city's New Year's Eve celebration, police said early Sunday.
Read more »
Woman having ‘psychiatric episode’ pulls up to UN gates, refuses to leave car: NYPDA woman bizarrely drove her car onto a sidewalk and up to the gate at the United Nations in Manhattan Sunday morning — and was removed to a hospital after cops convinced her to come out.
Read more »
3 NYPD officers injured in machete attack near NYE celebration in Times Square, officials sayThree NYC police officers are in stable condition after being struck by a man wielding a machete near Times Square, NYPD officials said.
Read more »
3 NYPD officers injured in machete attack near NYE celebration in Times Square, officials sayThe FBI, NYPD and Joint Terrorism Task Force are investigating, officials said in an early New Year's Day joint news conference.
Read more »
3 NYPD officers injured in machete attack near NYE celebration in Times Square, officials sayThe FBI, NYPD and Joint Terrorism Task Force are investigating, officials said in an early New Year's Day joint news conference.
Read more »