FBI Thwarts North Carolina ISIS-Inspired New Year’s Eve Plot on Jews and Christians

Federal agents have intercepted a murderous plot by an 18-year-old North Carolina Muslim man who allegedly planned to carry out attacks on Jews, Christians and others at a local grocery store and a fast-food restaurant on New Year’s Eve in the name of ISIS.

Christian Sturdivant of Mint Hill, a town just outside Charlotte, was arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. According to Russ Ferguson, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, the suspect intended to target locations frequented by the public, including the Burger King where he was employed.

“He talked about where he was planning to do this attack, which was at a grocery store and a fast food restaurant in Mint Hill. Places that we go every day and don’t think that we may be harmed,” Ferguson stated during a press conference.

The investigation began on December 18, after the FBI received tips regarding Sturdivant’s social media activity. Posts allegedly made by the suspect disparaged Christians, including an image of figurines with a caption reading “May Allah curse the cross worshipers,” and expressed alignment with the Islamic State.

Following these posts, Sturdivant engaged in online communications with an undercover government employee he believed to be an ISIS operative. During these exchanges, prosecutors say he shared photographs of weapons, including hammers and a knife. The U.S. Attorney’s Office noted that Sturdivant declared, “I will do jihad soon,” and referred to himself as “a soldier of the state.”

“He was preparing for jihad, and innocent people were going to die. And we were very, very fortunate they did not,” Ferguson said, noting the specific groups the suspect intended to harm, including Jews and Christians.

A search warrant executed at Sturdivant’s residence on December 29 yielded significant evidence. Agents discovered a handwritten plan titled “New Years Attack 2026,” along with tactical gear such as masks, vests, and gloves. The manifesto reportedly outlined a goal of stabbing approximately 20 to 21 civilians and included a “martyrdom Op” designed to ambush police officers responding to the scene. Physically, agents recovered two butcher knives and two hammers concealed beneath the suspect’s bed.

Top law enforcement officials praised the intervention for preventing a potential tragedy.
“This successful collaboration between federal and local law enforcement saved American lives from a horrific terrorist attack on New Year’s Eve,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. “The Department of Justice remains vigilant in our pursuit of evil ISIS sympathizers – anyone plotting to commit such depraved attacks will face the full force of the law.”

FBI Director Kash Patel echoed these sentiments, highlighting the bureau’s diligence over the holiday season.

“The FBI and our partners continued working 24/7 over the holidays protecting the American people, and this case out of Charlotte foiling another alleged New Years Eve attacker is the latest example of their tremendous work,” Patel said. “Our teams quickly identified the threat and acted decisively — no doubt saving American lives in the process. Thanks to our Joint Terrorism Task Force and regional partners both in New York and Western North Carolina for their efforts.”

Officials revealed that this was not Sturdivant’s first brush with radicalization. James C. Barnacle, Jr., special agent in charge of the FBI’s Charlotte Field Office, disclosed that the bureau first noticed Sturdivant in January 2022, when he was still a juvenile.

“He was in contact via social media with an unidentified ISIS member overseas. Sturdivant received direction from this unidentified ISIS member to dress in all black, knock on people’s doors, and attack them with a hammer. In fact, Sturdivant did dress in all black. He left this house with a hammer, and fortunately his family stepped in,” Barnacle explained.

At that time, Sturdivant was referred for psychological care rather than facing criminal charges. Barnacle emphasized that the current case underscores the persistent danger of online radicalization.

“The FBI’s mission is to protect the American people, and this case demonstrates our dedication to do everything we can to protect the residents of North Carolina. We worked closely with the Department of Justice, NYPD, Mint Hill Police Department, and our FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force partners to investigate and disrupt this serious threat of a violent attack. We will never stop working to hold people accountable who seek to harm and terrorize our community,” Barnacle said.

“This investigation highlights the very real threat posed by people who self-radicalized online and are inspired by jihadist ideologies espoused by foreign terrorist organizations,” he added.
Barnacle closed with a plea for community vigilance regarding the radicalization of youth.
“We rely on the communities we serve and encourage the public to contact law enforcement when they see or hear something that doesn’t seem right. I also have this personal message – if your child, relative, friend, or neighbor is sliding into a dangerous ideology, you’ll be the first to see it. And together we can stop it. The threats we face are bigger than any one law enforcement or intelligence agency, requiring everyone who hears this message to work together to keep people safe,” Barnacle stated.

Sturdivant remains in federal custody. If convicted, he faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.