(CNN) — The prosecution said the suspect in the New Year’s Eve machete attack, Trevor Bickford, wanted to carry out the assassination of government officials and had traveled to New York “to kill people and carry out jihad.”
The statement was made in response to a bail request from Bickford.
The three injured NYPD officers are in stable condition, according to the NYPD commissioner.
Trevor Bickford, accused of assaulting three NYPD officers on New Year’s Eve, told investigators he wanted to kill a police officer and waited until the officer was alone in taking action, according to the prosecution’s complaint.
“The defendant admitted that he purposely waited until he saw a moment where the officer was isolated and not near any civilians where he could attack him,” prosecutor Lucy Nicholas said in court.
Bickford said during his interview with authorities that he said “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is great) before walking up and hitting an officer on the head with his pistol.
He then described how he charged another officer but dropped his knife and tried to reach for the officer’s gun, albeit to no avail, according to the complaint.
The prosecution quoted the defendant’s statements: “I wanted to kill a uniformed officer. I saw the officer and waited until he was alone. I said ‘Allahu Akbar’. I went over and hit him on the head with a kukri (a machete-like knife). I lunged at another officer, but put the knife down and tried to grab his weapon, but couldn’t.”
The suspect was taken back into custody.
Trevor Bickford is being held by the New York City police on suspicion of a machete attack on three police officers on New Year’s Eve. (Credit: WABC)
Before Bickford was taken into custody, his defense attorney had said his client was “presumed innocent” and argued he should be released on parole. He also stressed that he was 19 years old, had been detained for more than 24 hours and had no criminal record.
Bickford’s attorney, Rosemary Vassallo-Vellucci, also mentioned her ties to the community, telling the judge that she lived with her family in Maine and recently worked at a golf course.
“He is presumed innocent,” Vassallo-Vellucci said.
