:format(url)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/lescoopsdelinformation/L2F6OCLVY5CBBNQ32DX5S7TOBA.jpg)
(New York) A 19-year-old American man who allegedly attacked New York police officers with a knife and wanted to carry out a jihadist attack was taken into custody Wednesday, a Justice Department source said. .
Trevor Pickford, a teenager, is accused of attacking three officers Saturday night near Times Square, where thousands of New Yorkers and tourists from around the world gathered on New Year’s Eve.
According to the police report, he struck multiple blows, causing injuries to the officers’ heads and shoulders, causing them to immobilize, without life-threatening injuries.
“I wanted to kill an officer in uniform […] I shouted “Allah Akbar,” and he declared, “Indeed,” during the first hearing, according to a court document made public Wednesday.
The young man, originally from the northeastern US state of Maine, had shown signs of Islamist radicalization before the events and carried a diary in which he expressed his desire to join the ranks, according to sources cited by the media. Afghan Taliban and martyrdom.
Federal police questioned him in mid-December after receiving information from a relative about jihadist comments and monitoring his activities on the Internet, the agents told NBC on condition of anonymity.
“At first he explained that he wanted to go abroad, but then he decided to come to New York first and kill and wage jihad,” lawyer Lucy Nichols said during the trial, promising to appear in New York State Court in Manhattan.
He was immediately remanded in custody.
“Certified food fanatic. Extreme internet guru. Gamer. Evil beeraholic. Zombie ninja. Problem solver. Unapologetic alcohol lover.”
