Islamic extremist who stabbed NYPD cops on fbi watchlist
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Islamic Extremist Who Stabbed NYPD Cops With Machete Was On FBI Watch List

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An alleged Islamic extremist who attacked multiple NYPD officers with a machete in New York City’s Times Square was already on the FBI’s watchlist.

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The attacker, 19-year-old Trevor Bickford, traveled from his home in Wells, Maine to New York with camping equipment, a diary, and a will. According to the New York Post, Bickford had a will and testament in the event that he died in the New Year’s Eve attack. Around 10 p.m., three officers working in Times Square were struck in the head with a machete. One of the officers, a rookie cop, suffered a gash to the head, while another suffered blunt force trauma. The extent of the third officer’s injuries is unknown, but all three are expected to recover.

Bickford was shot in the shoulder during the attack and is still being treated at Bellevue Hospital, but his charges are still pending. Investigators believe the young man became interested in Islamic extremism after his father died of a drug overdose in 2018.

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He attended the Wells High School and was a member of the school’s Warriors football team. Bickford also won awards for art and his mother recently wished him a happy birthday on Facebook. In the post, she called him an old soul who “had no fear of trying new things.” Bickford does not have a criminal record and he appeared on the FBI’s watchlist after his aunt notified police about his concerning statements about fighting in Afghanistan.

Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said during the press conference that the attack was unprovoked and took place at West 52nd Street and Eighth Avenue. Twitter users who watched the conference asked where was the FBI when the young man committed his attack since he was on their watch list.

“So if the FBI was had him under surveillance.. where were they when he attacked our NYPD officers?”

However, others wished for the speedy recovery of the officers who were injured during the attack.

Other attacks also took place near Times Square. A man was stabbed in the neck with scissors and another was stabbed multiple times before New Year’s Eve celebrations.

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