Teen accused of trying to kill NYPD officers in Times Square on New Year’s Eve faces new terrorism charges

A Maine teen accused of attempting to kill NYPD officers on New Year’s Eve in Times Square pleaded not guilty to terrorism charges Wednesday.

Trevor Bickford appeared in Manhattan State Supreme Court to file a guilty plea days after he was indicted on federal terrorism charges.

Prosecutors say the 19-year-old attacked three patrol officers on Eighth Avenue near West 52nd Street with a machete-like short sword in a mad attempt to kill men in uniform.

Rookie cop Paul Cozzolino, 23, suffered a skull fracture and serious injuries that required internal and external stitches, according to court records. Bickford is accused of causing less serious injuries to officers Louis Iorio and Michael Hanna, who shot him in the shoulder during a chaotic skirmish.

Trevor Bickford

“These brave officers served on the front lines to keep New Yorkers and New Year’s visitors safe,” said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

“The allegations contained in the indictment demonstrate how seriously we take this incident.”

Bickford pleaded not guilty to attempted murder to promote terrorism, attempted murder and related assault charges. On Monday, he appeared in federal court in Manhattan, where he is charged with four counts of attempted murder of US government officers and employees and those who helped them.

According to federal court records, a teenager from Wells, Maine, committed violent attacks after consuming materials promoting violent Islamic extremism and planned to die in the act. The Manhattan district attorney plans to call an Islamic Jihad ideology expert as a witness when the case goes to trial, legal documents say.

Those close to Bickford say he was an honors student and an athlete before quickly sliding down the rabbit hole of violent ideologies.

He is being held in federal prison while his cases are being tried, authorities say.

Bickford’s lawyer in his state case, Rosemary Vassallo, declined to comment.

Content Source

California Press News – Latest News:
Los Angeles Local News || Bay Area Local News || California News || Lifestyle News || National news || Travel News || Health News

Related Articles

Back to top button