Receive daily updates from our US-based reporters directly in your email inbox.
Here’s a summary of the most recent news stories from around the United States.
A man has admitted to committing federal offenses for a knife assault on December 31, 2022.
At 19 years old, Trevor Bickford assaulted three police officers using a machete near Times Square in New York City.
None of the officers died during the attack, however all three were hospitalized due to their injuries. Bickford, who had journeyed from Maine, was wounded in the shoulder and apprehended.
Based on legal records, Bickford’s assault was planned as a “jihadist mission.” He had recently converted to Islam and had started “consuming materials” promoting an extremist Islamic belief system, such as content related to the Taliban.
“During the following months, Bickford became radicalized and committed himself to violent Islamic extremism, engaging in jihad,” according to the documents.
Bickford had previously expressed a desire to engage in a violent act, informing his family that he was considering traveling to Jordan or Afghanistan to become a suicide bomber. In addition, he acquired a crossbow and frequently honed his skills in using it.
Federal officials stated that Bickford’s intention in the attack was to die and become a martyr. As he did not successfully kill any officers or die himself, he viewed the attack as a failure.
According to US Attorney Damian Williams, Bickford deliberately chose the well-known annual event as a platform for committing violent and hateful acts in the name of jihad. Williams stated that Bickford, like many others who have committed acts of terrorism in support of misguided beliefs, will be serving a long sentence in federal prison.
Bickford, currently 20 years old, admitted to committing three counts of attempted murder against employees of the US government. Additionally, they were charged with three counts of assaulting US government employees, with a potential maximum jail term of 20 years for each count.
In total, he may be sentenced to a maximum of 120 years in jail. His sentencing is set for April 11th.
According to the New York Times, Bickford expressed remorse for the assault during his court appearance on Thursday. He also revealed that he has since been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and is currently undergoing treatment with psychiatric medication.
He apologized, saying, “I am aware that my actions were incorrect.”
Source: independent.co.uk
