New Year's Eve Times Square attacker could face terrorism charges

A man who attacked three police officers with a machete near Times Square on New Year's Eve could face terrorism charges, according to an anonymous law enforcement official who spoke to the New York Times.

Trevor Bickford, a 19-year-old from Maine, has already been charged with two counts of attempted murder and two counts of attempted assault.

According to the unnamed law enforcement official, Bickford travelled from his home in Maine to injure the police in an act of Islamic extremism.

Around 10pm on New Year's Eve, Bickford swung the machete at three police officers, just outside the cordon for the Times Square New Year's Eve celebrations. He was shot in the shoulder by one of the officers.

A diary found on Bickford after the attack contained a farewell letter to his family.

According to reports, Bickford converted to Islam in the last year and a half and planned to go abroad to fight. His family alerted law enforcement of his plans and he then said he planned to travel domestically and in peace.

Bickford left Maine in early December, with cash, a debit or credit card, and the machete. He had reached New York by last Thursday. He spent some time in New York before the attack on New Year's Eve.

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