Yet another convert to Islam somehow gets the crazy idea that his new, peaceful religion requires him to do violence to non-Muslims. Authorities remain resolutely incurious about this recurring phenomenon.
“Maine man pleads guilty in New Year’s Eve machete attack near Times Square,” Associated Press, January 11, 2024:
NEW YORK (AP) — A Maine man pleaded guilty on Thursday to attempted murder charges, admitting he tried to kill three New York Police Department officers when he attacked them with a machete near Times Square on New Year’s Eve a year ago.
Trevor Bickford, 20, of Wells, Maine, entered the plea in Manhattan federal court to three attempted murder charges and three charges of assaulting U.S. employees or officers. Together, the charges carry a potential penalty of up to 120 years in prison….
“On Dec. 31, 2022, I attempted to kill three NYPD officers with a knife while they were working in Manhattan,” Bickford said after he was asked to describe his crimes. “I know what I did was wrong and I’m sorry.”…
Bickford shouted “Allahu akbar” — the Arabic phrase for God is great — before striking the officers in the head with the machete and trying to grab an officer’s gun, authorities said. One officer suffered a fractured skull.
All three officers were injured in the attack. Bickford was shot in the shoulder by police and taken to a hospital. Authorities say he had studied radical Islamic ideology and decided to wage jihad against U.S. officials….
At the outset of the hearing, Bickford said he was taking three medications for treatment of schizoaffective disorder.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Kushner told the judge that evidence in the case included the foot-long (30-centimeter) machete as well as post-arrest statements in which Bickford left “no doubt” that he attacked the officers because they were military-age men….
She said Bickford had intended to kill “as many as possible” of the men in uniform that he came across.
Kushner said he had intended to die a martyr in the attack and believed it was unsuccessful because nobody died.
The prosecutor said Bickford had originally intended to go overseas and fight alongside terrorists there but eventually decided to carry out an attack in the United States instead. She said he told investigators that he had walked around Times Square before the attack, “trying to figure out the right time to kill.”…
James Lincoln says
According to the feature article:
“Authorities say he had studied radical Islamic ideology and decided to wage jihad against U.S. officials….”
There is no such thing as radical islamic ideology.
It is simply islamic ideology.
Frank Anderson says
James, Viktor Frankl wrote about “the delusion of reprieve” in his landmark book Man’s Search for Meaning. Death camp inmates survived from one day to the next and avoided suicide which was as simple as stepping across a boundary wire about 3 meters or 10 feet from the fence. Frankl observed that the delusion helps when the situation is horrible and totally beyond the person’s ability to change or accept. “If you can’t stand the reality, make something up!” (My summary). This is the kind of fool we allow to be in charge of our lives, safety and future.
From all my reading, we are in agreement that there is only 1 Islam which has taught and practiced war, slavery, conquest and death for 1400 years.
James Lincoln says
Frank,
Thank you for your very informative reply.
SC says
The officer who shot him in the shoulder needs mandated range time so he does it right next time.
PRCS says
Why, oh why, do “authorities” cling to the erroneous notion that Islam comes in two flavors: regular and “radical”?
David M says
Political correctness, & because they refuse to believe the wolves are inside the gate. Schizo meets Islam, that could have only spelt bad news. He’ll have plenty of time in prison to read more about Islam anyway.
PRCS says
+1
Wellington says
Absolutely correct, James. If only one thing was clearly understood and that is that the term “radical Islam” is redundant then everything else would start to fall into place.
Hudders. says
100% correct @James
Islam is islam. Period.
Just as a death cult can never be called anything other than a death cult.
& the sun can never claim to be the moon.
Islam is islam.
Therefore any muslim who describes himself as ‘moderate’ is either deluded, or most likely lying & non muslims who spread this false narrative are brainwashed idiots.
drew webb says
Yep good old Erdogan said as much
Robert Chambers says
Amen, so true!!
bagsgroove says
Life in prison,with no chance for parol.
Frank Anderson says
What would he do in prison? Make more monsters just like him. There are plenty of people who are eager to let other people think for them.
James Lincoln says
Your point is well taken, Frank.
Perhaps ADX Florence would work…
somehistory says
People who are truly mentally ill…whether with schizophrenia, bi-polar, or another disorder of the brain via tumors or chemical imbalances, deserve sympathy, help and support.
mozlums take advantage of people who exhibit mental problems and create such as happened to this young person.
A lot of meds these *patients* take, make them feel awful with the side effects produced and they may rather fight the thoughts and problems caused by their illness than fight those caused by medications.
Getting off their meds is a sure way to get in trouble…esp if they meet up with mozlums who pretend to befriend and then draw them in to acting out their *new* thoughts.
Hopefully, he is truly sorry and doctors can find something that will work for him so that he can understand what he did and why. Hopefully, also, he can avoid mozlums where he is being sent; evidently for a very long time.
Ray Jarman says
Excellent opine and maybe the prison authorities will give him a dog to aid him with his mental problems.
somehistory says
Thank you, Ray. I have a cousin with schizophrenia. He would take his meds for awhile and then quit due to how they made him feel and then, he’d cause his parents grief; disappearing sometimes.
And a friend is bi-polar…also has a med problem, but a sweet person, nevertheless.
Hopefully, this guy can get some help, as you say. Maybe he can unconvert..
SC says
A seriously angry Therapy Grizzly Bear would be better than a dog. Take it from Moslem Prisoner to Moslem Prisoner. Good therapy for the bear.
James Lincoln says
somehistory says,
“People who are truly mentally ill…whether with schizophrenia, bi-polar, or another disorder of the brain via tumors or chemical imbalances, deserve sympathy, help and support.”
Yes they do, but they also need to be compliant – and work with their physicians.
I have treated patients (in conjunction with psychiatry) with schizophrenia / bi-polar – with the understanding that they take their medications as directed – and attend counseling.
If their medications are causing bothersome side effects, there are usually alternative medications that would be much less bothersome – and that they can tolerate. Every patient is a little bit different, and oftentimes there is a little bit of “trial and error”.
In general, schizophrenic / bi-polar patients who comply with doctor’s orders can be productive – and are not particularly dangerous to society. One of my best friends from grade school has severe bipolar disorder, but has done very well with medication and counseling.
However, if they just stop taking their medications “on their own” with no physician input, they are responsible for their subsequent behavior.
Joe Kool says
A woman I went to school with has a son in prison for murder, he told her about 10 years ago he had converted to Islam, he was pressured to convert. This was in GA ( down around Macon I believe) and 10 years ago, but no one seems to be concerned, nothing on the news etc. Prisons are already under Sharia law I guess. As these prisoners get released it’s not going to be pretty!
David M says
If prisoners have any sense they’ll renounce Islam the day they are released. They’re only doing it in prison for protection.
abu taleb says
Seems like only converts to Islam who try to kill people, converts to other religions become more peaceful. Coincidence? Of course not, Islam is the religion of evil which commands its followers to kill non muslims.
arthur facteau says
I’m from Maine. Can’t help but feel a little bad fro this kid, he had mental health issues to start with, probably wasn’t getting the right help to start with, and possibly not the right kind of medications he needed to help with the problems he was having either. That can take time and effort to get the right balance.
From what I’m seeing in the article, it seems he understands the horrible mistake he has made and has showed remorse for his actions. This is a good sign that the brainwashing from the cult of evil has come to an end. At least that much has happened. Maybe now is the time for some mercy.
Clearly some punishment for his actions is in order, but not the rest of his life certainly.
Goofy says
It is called Maine Stream Islam.
It may easily be confused with any other type and expression of Islam!
Islam is always demonic and self-righteous!
FYI says
“Radical islamic ideology”=Uncritical acceptance of the koran=normative islam
A Critical analysis of the koran {on the other hand}with allah’s recommendation…{yes allah says in koran 10:94 to muhammed to check with the Bible People if in doubt:the ‘scholars’ don’t want muslims to know that}…shows the koran to be false.The Scientific errors alone expose the hoax.
The way out of islam:Critical analysis. but it is not easy.islam has a death penalty for apostasy
The idiot who converts to islam has not used any critical thinking:surely it is obvious the Cause and Effect.
So he converts to islam{uses uncritical thinking} leading… to Jail
That’s why they say…Stay Away From Islam
Pray Hard says
Wood’ja look at that! Mental illness … again.
ed says
He is sorry
That he didn’t kill any one