The FBI Islamic Extremist Watchlist included the Suspect who allegedly stabbed NYPD officers during NYE Celebrations

On New Year’s Eve New York CityTrevor Bickford, 19, was arrested after allegedly attacking several teenagers NYPD Officers with a machete kukri In Times SquareAuthorities claim that the suspect was being tracked as a radical Islamic extremist. 

Fox News reports This is a “high-level police source” According to the outlet, Bickford was being “watched by the FBI’s counterterrorism task force in the weeks leading up to Saturday’s attack.” According to the police source Bickford was “recently converted to Islam and a tipster claimed he had expressed interest in going to Afghanistan.”

Bickford, of Wells, Maine, is accused of stabbing and stabbing two officers who were performing routine NYE security on Saturday night at 10 PM. He was located on Eighth Avenue between 51st Street and 52nd Street.

The New York Post reports One officer was a rookie “assigned to the Police Academy” Suffered a “laceration to the head.” A second officer from Staten Island was also attacked in the head. Both officers were taken by Bellevue Hospital, and they are expected back to normal soon.  The suspect was stopped by a third officer who pulled out his gun and shot Bickford in their shoulder. The cop was taken to Mt. Sinai with unknown injuries. However, he is expected to fully recover.

According to The Post, the Boston FBI claimed that there was an “open case” On Bickford, as he was on their “guardian list,” It is the watchlist for radicalization.

Michael Driscoll, of the FBI, stated this during a Sunday news conference. “I want to be clear that the FBI, through the Joint Terrorism Task Force, is working very closely with [NYPD] to determine the nature of this attack.”

“And we will run every lead to ground. I also want to be very clear, as you’ve heard said tonight previously, this is very much an ongoing investigation so our ability to talk about specifics is limited,” Driscoll was also added.

According to Bickford, the weapon he allegedly used was a pistol. “large knife” By Keechant Sewell, Police Commissioner.

Eric Adams, NYC Mayor, said. “As we do a preliminary review of the body cam video, we see how well these officers executed the plan that was put in place by the New York City Police Department in ensuring we protect those who came here to bring in a new year.”