ISIS-linked New Year's Eve Terror Plot Thwarted, FBI Reports

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FBI and Law Enforcement Prevent Potential Terrorist Attack in North Carolina

In a significant operation, the FBI and local law enforcement in Charlotte, North Carolina, have successfully thwarted what could have been a terrorist attack. The incident involved 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant, who was allegedly inspired by the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) to plan an attack on New Year’s Eve.

According to the FBI Charlotte office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Sturdivant intended to use knives and hammers to carry out a deadly attack at a grocery store and a fast-food restaurant in the town of Mint Hill. Authorities were concerned that Sturdivant might act before the planned date, so they placed him under constant surveillance, even on Christmas Day.

Although the specific businesses targeted have not been named, court documents indicate that Sturdivant worked at a local Burger King and may have considered stores in that area. The investigation into Sturdivant began when he was still a minor in January 2022. At that time, he was allegedly in contact with an unknown person linked to ISIS, who encouraged him to dress in all black, knock on people's doors, and attack them.

During this period, Sturdivant reportedly dressed in all black and left his house with the intention of killing his neighbor using a knife and hammer. However, his grandfather intervened and brought him back home. This incident occurred after Sturdivant had pledged "Bayat," a loyalty oath to ISIS, prior to the attempted attack.

Following this event, his grandfather took away the weapons and restricted his access to social media. At the time, Sturdivant's grandfather was his legal guardian and served as a minister at an unnamed church in Charlotte.

On December 18, 2025, the FBI Charlotte office received information that Sturdivant was making social media posts supporting ISIS. This came after Sturdivant contacted an undercover law enforcement officer, whom he believed to be an ISIS member, on December 12. During their conversation, Sturdivant reportedly said, “I will do jihad soon,” referring to himself as “a soldier of the state,” which he associated with ISIS.

On December 14, Sturdivant sent the undercover officer a photo of two hammers and a knife. He is accused of later sharing his plan to attack a specific grocery store that is part of a national chain, claiming he also intended to purchase a gun for the attack.

On December 19, Sturdivant allegedly sent the undercover officer a voice recording, again pledging Bayat. On December 29, authorities searched Sturdivant’s Mint Hill home with a warrant and discovered handwritten documents detailing his alleged plan to stab up to 20 or 21 people, along with a list of materials he would need and his hopes of dying as a martyr.

Despite previous reports that the weapons had been taken from Sturdivant, officials found under his bed two hammers and two butcher knives. Sturdivant was arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.

Sturdivant remained in custody on New Year’s Eve. His first court appearance was scheduled for Friday. U.S. Attorney for Western North Carolina, Russ Ferguson, stated, “Americans deserve to celebrate New Year’s Eve without worrying about their personal safety. That is why we worked non-stop to thwart this alleged violent terrorist attack. I am proud of the work done here and thankful for the time spent by law enforcement away from their families during the holidays to ensure public safety.”

Sturdivant turned 18 years old in December and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison if convicted. This case highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to prevent potential threats, especially during high-profile events such as New Year’s Eve.

The FBI in Los Angeles recently announced the disruption of a separate New Year’s Eve plot, where members of an extremist anti-capitalist and anti-government group were arrested for planning to bomb multiple sites in southern California.

Over the past decade, several ISIS-inspired attacks have occurred across the United States. These include a 2015 shooting rampage by a husband-and-wife team that killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California, and a 2016 massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, where a gunman killed 49 people.