The teen accused of slashing two NYPD cops with a machete on New Year’s Eve was carrying a handwritten diary professing his wish to be a part of the Taliban in Afghanistan, according to a new report.
Trevor Bickford, 19, who continues to be in police custody following the assault outside the house the Periods Sq. safety zone, also wrote in the diary that he wished to die as a martyr, CNN reported, citing regulation enforcement sources.
Just after Bickford allegedly slashed two officers shortly just before midnight Saturday, one more NYPD officer shot him in the shoulder and he was rushed to Bellevue Medical center in Manhattan, alongside with the two cops. They are all anticipated to endure.
On Sunday, the FBI raided the teen’s relatives home in Wells, Maine, where by Bickford was by all appearances an upstanding higher school student before allegedly radicalizing himself to Islamic extremism.
In addition to the diary, Bickford reportedly carried a chilling letter in which he he urged his family members to ‘repent to Allah’ so they ‘may be taken out of the hellfire.’
Trevor Bickford, 19, carrying a handwritten diary professing his wish to be part of the Taliban in Afghanistan when he allegedly attacked NYPD officers with a machete on New Year’s Eve
Bickford allegedly slashed two officers with this machete on 8th Avenue close to Occasions Square close to 10pm Saturday night in which hundreds of revelers prepared to ring in the new 12 months
Bickford reportedly professed his desire to be part of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Taliban militants are noticed above patrolling Kabul very last year, just after retaking control of the region
‘To my relatives — particularly, mother — I’m sorry for not owning been a superior more than enough son,’ the take note examine, in accordance to a police supply who spoke with the New York Submit.
The take note, which has not been launched publicly, continued with Bickford allegedly creating his hopes that his household will one working day see the planet the way he does.
Right before the assault on New Year’s Eve, Bickford had been an honor roll pupil, won awards for his artwork, and was a member of the championship football group in his hometown.
But just after his father died of a drug overdose in 2018, it seems Bickford’s daily life descended into turmoil.
‘I dread tremendously that you will not repent to Allah,’ he wrote in the observe to family members noted by the Put up. ‘And therefore I maintain hope in my heart that a piece of you believes so that you may possibly be taken out to the hellfire.’
Bickford went on to contact his brother Devon a traitor for serving in the U.S. Military.
‘To Devon, there was a time when we were being close, but that time has passed,’ the manifesto mentioned, according to the Put up.
An additional officer fired on the suspect, hitting him in the shoulder. All of the hurt had been taken to Bellevue Hospital the place they are in critical but stable condition, officers have explained
‘You have joined the ranks of my enemy. And for that I can give you no variety text – return to Allah,’ wrote the 19-yr-previous, who does not have a prison history according to a preliminary investigation.
‘To [my brother] Travis. Of anyone I have recognised who I have felt is closest to faith — it’s you,’ Bickford allegedly wrote.
‘Of everyone I’ve at any time wished to settle for Islam with me — it truly is you. You should repent to Allah and take Islam. I anxiety for you.’
On Saturday night time, Bickford allegedly attacked two NYPD law enforcement officers on Eighth Avenue concerning 51st and 52nd Street, appropriate outside Periods Square wherever countless numbers of revelers had been ringing in the new calendar year.
Yet another officer shot at Bickford, placing him in the shoulder. He stays hospitalized at the Bellevue and fees are pending.
Bickford does not have a prison report in accordance to a preliminary investigation, but law enforcement sources say the FBI’s area place of work in Boston has an open circumstance on him.
Bickford’s household is found on Alpine Road in Wells, Maine – just about 5 several hours north of NYC
Bickford (on far suitable) is pictured on numerous social media posts with brothers Devin and Travis
Authorities have instructed NBC they were being looking into no matter whether the suspect experienced beforehand posted what they termed jihadist writings on the web and then traveled to New York Metropolis to target law enforcement.
Shots posted to Fb present Bickford at distinct times of his life, quite a few with his two brothers Devin and Travis.
There are photos of him participating in football with the championship Wells Substantial University Warriors soccer workforce, singing in the choir, and marching with the coloration guard.
As just lately as 2020, he was among a group of learners to earn awards for their artwork. Bickford won for his get the job done in jewelry, Seacoastonline reported at the time.
Prior to his death in 2018 – reportedly of a drug overdose – his father Thomas Bickford proudly posted pics of his sons and their achievements.
Household and friends had been rapid to praise the boys and their brilliant futures. Bickford’s father died at the age of 41, in accordance to his obituary.
Bickford’s mother has a slew of pictures on her Fb website page where she gushes about the 19-yr-previous, contacting him an ‘old soul’ and states she’s fortunate to be his mother
Pictures posted on the web by his family members present Bickford with his brothers or with his doggy
His dad and mom Thomas and Audra D’Antilio married on September 9, 2001, and lifted a few sons, Devin, Trevor, and Travis, in Wells, Maine.
The patriarch of the family members could usually be located coaching them at football and wrestling, according to the obituary.
His father Thomas Bickford died unexpectedly in 2018 at age 41, in accordance to his obit
It also mentioned he was at times difficult on his sons in terms of his style of coaching, but ‘he liked his boys extra than everything.’
Bickford’s mom Audra D’Antilio, who ultimately remarried, also has a slew of pictures on her Facebook web site exactly where she gushes about her son, calling him an ‘old soul’ and writes that she feels blessed to be his mother.
On July 28, she shared a photograph of Bickford for his 19th birthday and wrote: ‘Happy 19th Birthday Trevor. So very pleased and blessed to be ready to connect with you my son.
‘You’re an outdated soul and you amaze me each individual working day with all that you take pleasure in to take a look at and do. I like that you have no anxiety of making an attempt new factors, and you definitely are the most effective brother ever. I am so outside of happy of the male you are getting, I enjoy you.’
Just six months later on, Bickford is remaining accused of the assaults on the NYPD officers. Bickford and the cops are all at Bellevue Clinic in Manhattan, wherever are all anticipated to survive.
The whole family is pictured in happier instances at the Tower of Terror in Disney Environment
Michael Driscoll, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York discipline business, stated the FBI’s Joint Terrorist Process Power in New York City was investigating but investigators imagine the attacker acted on your own.
The attack took place just exterior of the substantial-safety zone exactly where hundreds of revelers were being screened for weapons as they geared up to ring in 2023.
Bickford is accused of slashing just one officer in the head, hanging a 2nd officer with the machete, and swinging at a 3rd cop, who fired his weapon, hanging Bickford in the shoulder.
The attack and seem of a gunshot briefly despatched some folks jogging, but the festivities in Moments Sq. continued uninterrupted.
Mayor Eric Adams said at a news meeting early Sunday that he spoke to one of the wounded officers as he was staying stitched up at the hospital.
‘He was in fantastic spirits,’ Adams mentioned. ‘He recognized that his job saved lives of New Yorkers today.’
