NYPD machete attacker in Times Square sentenced to 27 years in prison for New Year’s Eve ambush

NEW YORK — The man, who attacked NYPD officers with a machete on New Year’s Eve 2022 near Times Square was sentenced to 27 years in prison on Thursday.

Trevor Bickford of Wells, Maine, pleaded guilty to federal terrorism chargesincluding attempted assassination of the officers earlier this year.

Bickford attacked Officers Louis Iorio, Paul Cozzolino and Mickel Hanna on December 31, 2022 at approximately 10 p.m. at 52nd Street and Eighth Avenue. One officer suffered a fractured skull, another was treated for a cut and the third shot Bickford in the shoulder.

Bickford was on the FBI watch list

Investigators said Bickford, then 19, traveled from Maine to New York City carry out the attack in the name of jihad.

It was Bickford Placed on a no-fly list earlier this month After his aunt warned the authorities, he became radicalized online and wanted to travel abroad to fight alongside Islamist extremists.

He later confessed to a judge that “I tried to kill three officers with a knife,” adding, “I know what I did was wrong and I’m sorry.”

He faced up to 20 years in prison for each count.

The civil servant’s first day at work

It was a dramatic and dangerous first day on the job for Officer Paul Cozzolino.

New Year’s Eve was his first official shift after graduating from the police academy on Dec. 30.

He and Officer Iorio were on patrol before the ball dropped in Times Square when they were attacked.

“Just goes to show you: If it’s not your first day, it could be your last day,” Mayor Eric Adams said at the time. “The actions that police officers have to take every day are life-threatening situations.”

The attack occurred just outside the NYPD’s security zone during New Year’s Eve celebrations.