A New Yr’s Eve machete assault on law enforcement officials close to Manhattan’s Occasions Sq. is being investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Job Drive.
Three law enforcement officials have been wounded within the assault by a 19-year-old mannypd who was shot within the shoulder and arrested, New York Metropolis Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell mentioned at a press convention with Mayor Eric Adams. All of the officers are all anticipated to outlive and return dwelling shortly.
The person approached the primary officer simply after 10 p.m. Saturday and “tried to strike him over the top with a machete,” Sewell mentioned. “The male then struck two extra officers within the head with the machete.” Sewell mentioned the assault was unprovoked.
The assaults occurred exterior the safety screening space arrange round Occasions Sq. for the normal New Yr’s Eve ball drop.
Sewell requested any witnesses to contact the NYPD.
Mike Driscoll, assistant director for the New York FBI area workplace, mentioned on the press convention that brokers are “working very intently” with the NYPD to “decide the character of this assault.” Driscoll declined to supply any additional particulars.
Adams mentioned that “there are not any credible threats to New Yorkers right now,” which was reiterated by Sewell and Driscoll. “We consider this was a sole particular person right now; there’s nothing to counsel in any other case,” Driscoll mentioned.
All three officers have been rushed to Bellevue Hospital following the assault and have been in secure situation, Adams famous.
An eight-year police veteran acquired a laceration to his head, and one other a big laceration and concussion within the assault, mentioned Sewell. The concussed officer had simply graduated from the police academy Friday, and his first task was the New Yr’s Eve element in Occasions Sq., she mentioned.
The suspect, reportedly from Maine, had no earlier arrest document, however was identified to federal and native legislation enforcement due to earlier on-line postings, police sources advised NBC and ABC Information.
Kinfolk had reportedly contacted legislation enforcement in latest weeks to report their considerations that he was gravitating towards harmful Islamist ideologies. He might have traveled to New York Metropolis particularly to focus on police, sources advised the networks.
The NYPD launched an image of a weapon that officers recovered on the scene.
Adams, Sewell and Driscoll all praised the officers who have been attacked — and different officers on the scene — for the way they handled the violence.
