ISIS-linked New Year's Eve Terror Plot Foiled, FBI Confirms

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A Terrorist Plot Foiled in North Carolina

In a recent development, a potential terrorist attack planned for North Carolina was successfully thwarted by the FBI and local law enforcement. The FBI Charlotte office and the US Attorney’s Office announced this on Friday, highlighting the collaborative efforts that led to the prevention of what could have been a devastating incident.

The individual at the center of the plot is 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant, who was reportedly "directly inspired" by the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) to plan an attack. According to authorities, 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 on New Year’s Eve.

FBI officials noted that they placed Sturdivant under constant surveillance for days, including on Christmas, due to concerns that he might attempt violence before the planned attack. This level of vigilance was critical in ensuring public safety during the holiday season.

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 a minor in January 2022. At that time, he was allegedly in contact with an unknown person affiliated with ISIS, who instructed him to dress in all black, knock on people’s doors, and attack them.

In that same month, Sturdivant allegedly 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, before the attempted attack.

Following this incident, his grandfather reportedly took away the weapons from Sturdivant and restricted his access to social media. At the time, his 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 this interaction, Sturdivant reportedly stated, “I will do jihad soon,” referring to himself as “a soldier of the state,” in reference to ISIS.

On December 14, Sturdivant allegedly 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 was also going to buy a gun to assist in the attack.

On December 19, Sturdivant is accused of sending the undercover officer a voice recording, again pledging Bayat. On December 29, authorities searched Sturdivant’s Mint Hill home with a warrant, where they found handwritten documents detailing his alleged plan to stab up to 20 or 21 people, 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 discovered 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.

He remained in custody on New Year’s Eve. His first court appearance was on Friday.

“Americans deserve to celebrate New Year’s Eve without worrying about their personal safety,” said U.S. Attorney for Western North Carolina Russ Ferguson. “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 just turned 18 years old in December and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison if convicted.

The FBI in Los Angeles recently announced the disruption of a separate New Year’s Eve plot, arresting members of an extremist anti-capitalist and anti-government group who federal officials said planned to bomb multiple sites in southern California.

Other ISIS-inspired attacks over the past decade include a 2015 shooting rampage by a husband-and-wife team who killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California, and a 2016 massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, by a gunman who fatally shot 49 people.