The 19-year-old suspect in a New Year’s Eve machete attack on New York City police officers was reportedly placed on an FBI terror watchlist because of his alleged Islamic extremist views.
According to authorities, the teenager from Wells, Maine, attacked three NYPD officers near Times Square on Saturday at roughly 10:11 p.m., attempting to strike one with a machete before hitting two other officers in the head with the weapon. The suspect was reportedly placed on an FBI terror watchlist recently after his aunt reported that he had been radicalized online and expressed a desire to fight overseas for Islamic extremists.
Authorities are investigating whether the attack was inspired by radical Islamic extremism, CBS News reported. Police believe the teenage suspect traveled via Amtrak from Maine to New York earlier last week, and sources told CBS that the NYPD was not aware the suspect was placed on an FBI terror watchlist.
This is the weapon that was recovered at the scene. https://t.co/Waaux2hUTt pic.twitter.com/EijU7QUgkQ
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) January 1, 2023
The suspect was subdued after he was shot in the shoulder by one of the officers he had attacked. All three NYPD officers were taken to a hospital and have since been released. The suspect was also taken to a hospital for treatment and is expected to survive his injuries.
One officer, identified as an eight-year veteran, sustained a laceration to the head. Another, who graduated from the police academy on Friday, suffered a skull fracture and large laceration, NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said.
New York City Democratic Mayor Eric Adams said he spoke to one of the injured officers while he was receiving treatment. Adams said the officer was in “good spirits” and “understood that his role saved lives of New Yorkers today.”
The FBI is assisting the NYPD in the investigation.
Watch as Police Commissioner Sewell & Mayor Adams provide an update on a police involved incident in Manhattan. https://t.co/ha11b02Fvq
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) January 1, 2023
Daniel Chaitin contributed to this report.