CNN
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Three New York Metropolis cops are in secure situation after being struck by a person wielding a machete in an unprovoked assault close to Occasions Sq., in response to the NYPD commissioner.
The assault occurred simply after 10 p.m. Saturday on West 52nd Road and eighth Avenue, exterior a Occasions Sq. New Yr’s Eve safety screening zone, Commissioner Keechant Sewell stated.
The suspect, recognized solely as a 19-year-old man, approached an officer and tried to strike him over the pinnacle with a machete, Sewell stated. The suspect then struck two extra officers earlier than one fired his service weapon, putting the suspect within the shoulder. The suspect is being handled for his accidents, Sewell stated.
The FBI, NYPD and Joint Terrorism Activity Pressure are investigating, officers stated in an early New Yr’s Day joint information convention.
“I need to be very clear … there isn’t a ongoing menace,” stated Mike Driscoll, the FBI assistant director in control of the New York subject workplace.
“We imagine this was a sole particular person presently,” he stated, including, “There may be nothing to point in any other case.”
One officer, a current graduate of the police academy, suffered a cranium fracture and a big laceration to his head, Sewell stated. One other officer, an 8-year veteran, suffered a laceration, the commissioner stated. She didn’t elaborate on accidents to the third officer.
Driscoll stated the FBI, by way of the duty drive, is working carefully with NYPD to find out the character of the assault and “will run each result in the bottom.”
The authorities didn’t elaborate on a attainable motive and stated the investigation is in preliminary levels.
New York Mayor Eric Adams praised the police response, saying responding officers instantly secured the scene and acted “with a degree of professionalism that we anticipate from all of our officers.”
After getting their fellow officers help and subduing the suspect, responding officers returned to their posts “as a result of we nonetheless had a metropolis we needed to shield,” Adams stated, referencing New Yr’s Eve celebrations.