FBI Disrupts ISIS-Inspired New Year’s Eve Plot in North Carolina, Arrests 18-Year-Old Suspect on Material Support Charges

Federal authorities disrupted what investigators describe as a late-stage, ISIS-inspired attack plan targeting civilian locations in North Carolina just days before New Year’s Eve, preventing a mass-casualty event that authorities say was designed to maximize civilian deaths and provoke a violent confrontation with law enforcement.

The Justice Department announced that Christian Sturdivant, 18, of Mint Hill, North Carolina, was arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham, a designated foreign terrorist organization. The criminal complaint was filed on December 31, 2025, and unsealed following Sturdivant’s initial appearance in federal court in Charlotte.

According to investigators, Sturdivant’s planning extended beyond ideological support and into operational preparation. Authorities allege that he intended to carry out a coordinated knife and blunt-force assault at a grocery store and a fast-food restaurant during New Year’s Eve celebrations, exploiting high civilian foot traffic to inflict maximum harm.

Federal officials stated that the disruption resulted from coordinated intelligence sharing between federal, state, and local agencies after investigators identified online extremist activity linked to ISIS propaganda and rhetoric.

The Attorney General stated that the intervention prevented a violent attack designed to target unsuspecting civilians during a holiday celebration, emphasizing that law enforcement remains vigilant against individuals who seek to translate extremist ideology into real-world violence. Senior FBI leadership echoed that assessment, noting that rapid threat identification and interagency coordination were decisive in preventing loss of life.

Court records allege that Sturdivant actively sought to align himself with ISIS ideology, referring to himself in communications as a “soldier” of the organization and expressing intent to conduct jihad on U.S. soil. Investigators state that in mid-December, Sturdivant began communicating with an online covert employee posing as an ISIS supporter. During those exchanges, he allegedly shared images of weapons, pledged loyalty to the organization, and discussed specific attack plans.

Authorities report that Sturdivant posted extremist content on social media platforms, including imagery and language consistent with ISIS propaganda narratives. One post allegedly depicted religious figures accompanied by text calling for violence against non-believers, reflecting the organization’s long-standing incitement campaigns that encourage attacks against civilians across ideological and religious lines.

Investigators further allege that Sturdivant sent images of knives and hammers to the covert employee, weapons frequently promoted in ISIS propaganda for low-tech, high-impact attacks in Western countries. Federal authorities note that such tactics have been repeatedly encouraged by ISIS publications as a means of enabling lone-actor assaults without requiring access to firearms or explosives.

In communications cited in the arrest affidavit, Sturdivant allegedly identified a specific grocery store as his intended target and discussed the possibility of acquiring a firearm to supplement the attack. On December 19, 2025, he is accused of transmitting an audio recording pledging bayat, a formal oath of allegiance to ISIS, further elevating the severity of the threat assessment.

A search warrant executed on December 29, 2025, at Sturdivant’s residence uncovered handwritten documents outlining the planned attack. One document, titled “New Years Attack 2026,” allegedly listed tactical equipment, weapons, and a targeted casualty count ranging from 20 to 21 victims. Investigators state that the document also included a section describing a so-called “martyrdom operation,” in which the suspect planned to attack responding police officers with the intent of dying during the encounter.

Despite claims that a family member attempted to restrict his access to weapons, law enforcement recovered multiple hammers and butcher knives concealed beneath Sturdivant’s bed, along with tactical gloves, a vest, and written target lists. Authorities believe these items correspond directly to materials shared in his online communications with the undercover operative.

Federal officials emphasized that the case illustrates a pattern increasingly observed in domestic counterterrorism investigations, where online radicalization escalates rapidly into real-world plotting. The use of encrypted messaging, social media platforms, and low-tech weapons continues to pose a significant challenge for early threat detection, particularly when suspects operate independently without direct contact from overseas handlers.

The investigation was led by the FBI Charlotte Joint Terrorism Task Force, with support from multiple federal agencies, local law enforcement departments, and the New York City Police Department. Officials highlighted the role of undercover cyber investigators in identifying and disrupting the plot before it reached execution.

Sturdivant remains in federal custody. If convicted, he faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. A federal judge will determine sentencing based on statutory factors and federal guidelines.

Federal authorities reiterated that the charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case underscores the continued threat posed by ISIS-inspired lone-actor violence within the United States and highlights the critical role of coordinated intelligence efforts in identifying and neutralizing emerging threats before civilians are harmed.

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