Archive · 3 Jan 2026
FBI Thwarts ISIS-Inspired New Year's Eve Attack
The FBI stopped a young man named Christan Sturdivant from carrying out a terrorist attack on New Year's Eve in North Carolina.
Sturdivant, who is 18 years old, had been planning the attack for about a year and was inspired by the terrorist group ISIS.
He had been talking to people he thought were part of ISIS, but they were actually undercover FBI and NYPD agents.
Sturdivant wanted to use knives and hammers to hurt people at a grocery store and a fast food restaurant.
The FBI found notes and weapons in his home.
If he is found guilty, he could go to prison for up to 20 years.
The FBI had been monitoring Sturdivant since 2022 after he made contact with a suspected IS member in Europe and received instructions to commit attacks with a hammer.
The FBI also tried to have Sturdivant involuntarily committed due to threats to others and himself, but a state magistrate judge denied the request.
The FBI thwarted an ISIS-inspired attack planned for New Year's Eve in North Carolina.
Christan Sturdivant, an 18-year-old from Mint Hill, was arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
Sturdivant had been planning the attack for about a year and was inspired by ISIS.
He had been communicating with undercover FBI and NYPD agents, discussing plans to attack a grocery store and fast food restaurant using knives and hammers.
Authorities found handwritten documents outlining the attack plan and seized weapons from Sturdivant's home.
- Who
- Christan Sturdivant, an 18-year-old from Mint Hill, North Carolina
- What
- An ISIS-inspired attack planned for New Year's Eve
- When
- The attack was planned for New Year's Eve, and the suspect had been planning it for about a year. The suspect was arrested on December 29.
- Where
- The planned attack was to take place in North Carolina, with a specific grocery store and fast food restaurant as the targets.
- Why
- The suspect was directly inspired by ISIS and had been communicating with individuals he believed to be affiliated with ISIS.
Law Enforcement
Legal System
Mental Health Detention
Law Enforcement
The FBI attempted to have Sturdivant involuntarily committed due to threats to others and himself.
Legal System
A state magistrate judge denied the FBI's request for involuntary commitment.
- Suspect
- Christan Sturdivant, 18, from Mint Hill, North Carolina
- Charges
- Attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization
- Planned Attack Date
- New Year's Eve
- Planning Duration
- About a year
- Potential Weapons
- Knives, hammers, and a firearm
- Target
- A grocery store and fast food restaurant in North Carolina
- Monitoring Period
- Since 2022
- Maximum Sentence
- Up to 20 years in federal prison
- Additional Plans
- Handwritten document titled 'New Years Attack 2026' discussing plans to stab up to 20 victims and attack responding police officers
Sources
FBI foiled terror plot inspired by ISIS in North Carolina on New Year's Eve
US says it thwarted potential ISIS-inspired New Year’s Eve attack in North Carolina
FBI thwarts ‘ISIS-inspired’ New Year’s Eve attack in North Carolina
Foiled "ISIS-Inspired Attack" In North Carolina, 18-Year-Old Arrested: FBI
FBI foils New Year’s Eve grocery store attack plot in North Carolina, arrests 18-year-old linked to ISIS
FBI thwarts ‘potential terrorist attack’, suspect ‘inspired by ISIS
US says it foils alleged knife attack inspired by Islamic State on New Year’s Eve
Who Is Christian Sturdivant, Accused Of Planning ISIS-Inspired Attack In US
FBI Foils Major Terror Attack Planned For New Year's Eve, Arrests IS Affiliated Youth
‘He was preparing for jihad’: FBI thwarts ISIS-inspired NYE attack in North Carolina, reveals chilling plan to stab 20 people
FBI Thwarts New Year’s Eve Attack Plot Inspired by IS
How US authorities thwarted a major ISIS-inspired terror attack on New Year’s Eve
New Year Attack Document, Hammers: What FBI Found From ISIS-Inspired Plotter
ISIS plot foiled in North Carolina: 18-year-old's New Year's eve attack plan stopped by FBI
Handwritten Doc, Hammers: What FBI Found Inside House Of US Teenager Who Planned ‘ISIS-Inspired’ Attack On New Year’s Eve
FBI foils New Year’s eve ISIS-linked attack in North Carolina, arrests 18-year-old - Telegraph India
Who is Christian Sturdivant? FBI nabs 18-year-old planning ‘ISIS-inspired’ New Year’s Eve terror plot
