A teenager was arrested on New Year’s Eve in a suburb of Charlotte, North Carolina, accused of planning a terror attack inspired by ISIS. Christian Sturdivant, 18, was charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
Sturdivant was communicating online with someone he thought was an ISIS member, but was actually an undercover NYPD agent. He was arrested before he could carry out the attack, which was planned for New Year’s Eve.
The FBI had been aware of Sturdivant since he was 14, when he was in contact with an ISIS member overseas. He was referred for psychological care and had no access to social media at the time.
Sturdivant’s plan was to attack a local grocery store and fast food restaurant in Mint Hill, a Charlotte suburb, using knives and hammers. He had written notes about the plot, including a list of targets and details about what he would wear.
FBI’s Effort To Counter Terrorism
The FBI found hammers and knives hidden under Sturdivant’s bed, along with a handwritten manifesto titled “New Years Attack 2026”. The note outlined his plan to target Jews, Christians, and the LGBTQ community.
Sturdivant’s attack was described as “very well planned” by US Attorney Russ Ferguson. He faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years if convicted.
The arrest was made as Sturdivant was being released from a medical facility. He is currently being held at Gaston County Jail on a federal hold.
Sturdivant appeared in court for the first time on Friday, but it’s unclear if he has an attorney. The FBI and US Attorney’s office are working to build a case against him.
The plot was disrupted thanks to the work of law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and NYPD. It’s the second known alleged attack plot disrupted during the New Year holiday this year.
In a separate incident, four people were arrested in Los Angeles for allegedly planning a bomb plot on New Year’s Eve.
Sturdivant’s online activity had raised red flags, leading the FBI to launch an investigation. He had posted pro-ISIS content on TikTok under a pseudonym.
The FBI is taking the threat of domestic terrorism seriously, and this arrest shows their commitment to keeping communities safe.
The case highlights the ongoing threat of ISIS-inspired attacks in the US. Law enforcement agencies are working to prevent such attacks and keep the public safe.
Sturdivant’s family is cooperating with authorities, and it’s unclear what role they may have played in the plot.
About the Author
