Damian Williams, the USA Legal professional for the Southern District of New York, Merrick B. Garland, the Legal professional Common of the USA, Christopher A. Wray, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director in Cost of the New York Subject Workplace of the FBI, and Keechant L. Sewell, the Commissioner of the New York Metropolis Police Division (“NYPD”), introduced as we speak that TREVOR THOMAS BICKFORD has been charged with federal crimes in reference to BICKFORD’s efforts to wage jihad by killing U.S. Authorities officers and his knife assault on three NYPD officers in Occasions Sq. on New Yr’s Eve. BICKFORD was charged by Grievance with making an attempt to kill officers and workers of the U.S. Authorities and individuals helping them. BICKFORD is at present in state custody and can be transported to and introduced in Manhattan federal courtroom at a later date to face the federal fees filed within the Southern District of New York.
U.S. Legal professional Damian Williams mentioned: “On this previous New Yr’s Eve, revelers flocked to Occasions Sq. to ring within the New Yr with family and friends. However Trevor Bickford allegedly focused the enduring yearly celebration to hold out a brazen act of violence and hatred within the title of jihad. Bickford’s alleged assault in one of the crucial visited locations on this planet on its busiest night time of the 12 months satirically solely served to highlight the coordination, resolve, and dedication of American legislation enforcement to protect the wellbeing of the general public. We sincerely thank our legislation enforcement companions for his or her excellent work and bravado, and particularly want a full and speedy restoration to the officers injured on this mindless assault.”
Legal professional Common Merrick B. Garland mentioned: “As detailed in as we speak’s criticism, we allege that the defendant plotted a jihad-inspired assault focusing on U.S. authorities officers, and on December 31st, 2022, attacked three NYPD officers who have been a part of the joint federal-state legislation enforcement operation defending the Occasions Sq. New Yr’s Eve celebration. We’re deeply grateful for the bravery of the officers who have been injured on this horrible assault and who put their lives on the road daily to serve their communities. Along with our legislation enforcement companions at each stage of presidency, the Justice Division will proceed to work to disrupt, examine, and prosecute those that goal and assault legislation enforcement and endanger the American folks.”
FBI Director Christopher A. Wray mentioned: “As alleged, three New York Metropolis Police Division officers have been brutally assaulted in a jihad-inspired assault on New Yr’s Eve whereas they have been performing their duties to guard their metropolis and people out celebrating the vacation. Being a legislation enforcement officer requires courageous people keen to place their lives on the road daily to maintain others protected. We’re dedicated to holding those that would goal legislation enforcement with violence totally accountable.”
FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll mentioned: “As we allege as we speak, Bickford intentionally deliberate and executed his violent assault towards New York Metropolis Police Officers who have been merely doing their job defending the general public. Solely the short motion of those courageous officers prevented additional hurt. The FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Process Power is unwavering in its mission to fight terrorism to maintain our metropolis protected, and we are going to convey any radicalized particular person keen to commit violence to justice.”
NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell mentioned: “An assault towards New York Metropolis law enforcement officials is an assault towards all of us – and as we speak’s fees make it clear that such violence can be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the legislation. Our NYPD household is grateful our heroic officers survived this premeditated ambush, and the complete metropolis commends them for stopping additional bloodshed throughout certainly one of our nation’s largest public occasions. Clearly, the specter of jihadist terrorism stays very actual, and our nation’s safety begins with the devoted native, state, and federal legislation enforcement officers who’re dedicated to maintaining us protected. I applaud our NYPD investigators, our companions on the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Process Power, and the prosecutors within the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the Southern District of New York for his or her mixed efforts on this necessary case.”
In accordance with the allegations contained within the Grievance charging the defendant:[1]
In the summertime of 2022, BICKFORD, a 19-year-old U.S. citizen and resident of Maine, started accessing and consuming supplies espousing radical Islamic ideology, together with supplies selling the Taliban and reflecting the teachings of Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, a outstanding radical Islamic cleric who was a non secular mentor of al Qaeda. Over the following months, BICKFORD radicalized, devoting himself to violent Islamic extremism and waging jihad.
By November 2022, BICKFORD was inquisitive about touring to the Center East to assist the Taliban and took steps in direction of touring to Afghanistan to ally himself with the Taliban and work with the Taliban to struggle towards governments that, in BICKFORD’s view, oppress Muslims. BICKFORD devoted himself to the mission of waging jihad towards officers of governments that he believes are anti-Muslim, together with the U.S. Authorities. BICKFORD informed a member of the family that he wished to journey to the Center East in order that he may very well be a suicide bomber for his faith. BICKFORD finally determined that he wouldn’t journey abroad, and as an alternative would wage jihad towards the U.S. Authorities inside the USA.
To hold out his jihadist mission, BICKFORD traveled from Maine to New York Metropolis in late December. On New Yr’s Eve, BICKFORD went to Occasions Sq. for the aim of killing U.S. Authorities officers, armed with a big, curved knife just like a machete, often known as a kukri, with a blade over one foot lengthy.
Defending the civilians who attend the annual New Yr’s Eve celebration in Occasions Sq. requires and includes the coordination, collaboration, and mutual help of a number of federal and state legislation enforcement businesses, together with the FBI and NYPD. Throughout this particular occasion, the FBI and NYPD work collectively and help one another within the efficiency of their respective duties, in a collective effort to make sure a protected Occasions Sq. New Yr’s Eve celebration.
At roughly 10:10 p.m., at 52nd Road and Eighth Avenue, blocks away from the New Yr’s Eve celebration in Occasions Sq., BICKFORD attacked three NYPD officers, who have been detailed to the joint federal-state legislation enforcement operation to guard the New Yr’s Eve celebration. The placement of 52nd Road and Eighth Avenue was an entry checkpoint at which spectators may achieve entry to the occasions in Occasions Sq., and each FBI and NYPD personnel have been deployed within the space of the checkpoint, together with the three officers whom BICKFORD attacked. BICKFORD approached the NYPD officers, declared “Allahu Akbar” — an Arabic phrase which means “God is nice,” which different radical Islamic extremists have equally proclaimed whereas finishing up terrorist assaults — and stabbed and struck the officers within the head along with his kukri. Earlier than BICKFORD may assault extra targets, one of many sufferer officers shot BICKFORD within the shoulder, stopping the assault, and he was taken into state custody. BICKFORD wounded all three officers, who suffered lacerations and different accidents, and every officer needed to be taken to a hospital for therapy.
A bag that BICKFORD introduced with him to the Occasions Sq. space was subsequently recovered by legislation enforcement from the scene of the assault. BICKFORD’s bag contained, amongst different issues, a ebook by al-Maqdisi selling jihad and BICKFORD’s journal. The al-Maqdisi ebook encourages followers, amongst different issues, to wage jihad towards disbelievers and governments dominated by disbelievers, and to make use of swords on the heads of disbelievers. An entry in BICKFORD’s journal from December 31, 2022 — that’s, the day of his assault — states that “this may possible be my final entry” and that BICKFORD believed his brother, a soldier within the U.S. navy, had “joined the ranks of my enemy.” A second bag that BICKFORD was carrying, additionally recovered by legislation enforcement close to Occasions Sq., contained a ebook espousing violent Islamic extremism, with sure parts highlighted, together with the next: “Struggle within the Title of Allah and within the Reason behind Allah. Struggle towards those that don’t imagine in Allah. Wage a holy struggle.”
The kukri that BICKFORD used within the assault, depicted under, was recovered by legislation enforcement from the scene of the assault:
After being handled at a neighborhood hospital, throughout a subsequent Mirandized interview, BICKFORD acknowledged, amongst different issues, the next:
- BICKFORD determined to not journey abroad to wage jihad as initially deliberate, and as an alternative to commit jihad in New York Metropolis. Within the days main as much as his New Yr’s Eve assault, BICKFORD traveled from Maine to New York Metropolis.
- On New Yr’s Eve, BICKFORD went to Occasions Sq. and walked across the space “making an attempt to determine the suitable time to kill.” BICKFORD began reciting verses from the Quran in his head to “hype himself up” for his assault.
- BICKFORD recognized an NYPD officer who was remoted from civilians and different officers, took out the kukri from his backpack, declared “Allahu Akbar,” and attacked the officer.
- After attacking that officer, BICKFORD charged at one other officer and tried however did not take away that officer’s firearm from the officer’s holster. One of many officer victims then shot BICKFORD within the shoulder, stopping his assault.
- When requested why he performed the assault, BICKFORD acknowledged that the officer was a person in uniform who had a weapon; all males of navy age have been his targets; nobody can work for the U.S. Authorities and be a real Muslim as a result of the U.S. Authorities helps Israel; and he wished to kill as many of those targets as he may.
- BICKFORD supposed to die within the assault, in an effort to attain martyrdom. BICKFORD believed his assault was unsuccessful, as a result of he didn’t kill any officers, and he didn’t die himself.
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BICKFORD, 19, of Wells, Maine, is charged within the Grievance with 4 counts of tried homicide of officers and workers of the U.S. Authorities and individuals helping them, every of which carries a most sentence of 20 years in jail. The fees carry an mixture potential sentence of 80 years in jail.
The utmost potential sentence on this case is prescribed by Congress and is supplied right here for informational functions solely, as any sentencing of the defendant can be decided by a decide.
Mr. Williams praised the excellent investigative efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Process Power, which consists of investigators and analysts from the FBI, the NYPD, and over 50 different federal, state, and native businesses.
The case is being dealt with by the Workplace’s Nationwide Safety and Worldwide Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah L. Kushner and Kaylan E. Lasky are accountable for the prosecution with help from Trial Legal professional D. Andrew Sigler of the Counterterrorism Part of the Division of Justice’s Nationwide Safety Division.
The fees contained within the Grievance are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed harmless except and till confirmed responsible.
[1] Because the introductory phrase signifies, the whole thing of the textual content of the Grievance, and the outline of the Grievance set forth herein, represent solely allegations and each truth described ought to be handled as an allegation.
