Key Takeaways:
- The FBI thwarted a potential terrorist attack on New Year’s Eve in North Carolina inspired by ISIS.
- Christian Sturdivant, 18, was arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
- Sturdivant allegedly planned to wear a Kevlar vest and use knives and hammers to attack people at a grocery store and fast food restaurant.
- The suspect was in contact with an unidentified ISIS member overseas and received direction to carry out the attack.
- Sturdivant faces a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison, depending on several factors.
Introduction to the Foiled Attack
The FBI announced on Friday that it had thwarted a "potential terrorist attack" inspired by ISIS on New Year’s Eve in North Carolina. Christian Sturdivant, 18, of Mint Hill, was arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. According to the FBI, Sturdivant was planning to wear a Kevlar vest and use knives and hammers to attack people at a grocery store and fast food restaurant. The suspect faces a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison, but officials said the sentence will depend on several factors.
The Investigation and Background
Sturdivant first came under the FBI radar in January 2022 when he was still a juvenile. He was in contact on social media with an unidentified ISIS member overseas. Special Agent in Charge James Barnacle explained that Sturdivant received direction from the unidentified ISIS member to dress in all black, knock on people’s doors, and attack them with a hammer. He was allegedly stopped by his grandfather. Following that attempt, Barnacle said he was referred for psychological care and reportedly no longer had access to social media. However, a week before Christmas, the Charlotte Field Office learned that this was not true. On December 18, the FBI received information that a person on social media was making posts supporting ISIS and extremist ideology.
The Plot Unfolds
The criminal complaint alleges that Sturdivant sent an undercover agent a picture of two hammers and a knife, claiming he was planning to purchase a firearm to use in the potential act. Additionally, Sturdivant allegedly sent the undercover agent a voice recording of Sturdivant pledging "Bayat," a loyalty oath to ISIS. When agents became aware of his messages, they used a warrant on December 29 to search Sturdivant’s home and found handwritten papers, one labeled "New Years Attack 2026," which listed a vest, mask, tactical gloves, and knives. The plan, according to the FBI, described him wanting to stab as many people as possible, up to 20 to 21. The note also included a section labeled as "martyrdom op," describing a plan to attack police responding to the site of the attack so Sturdivant would die a martyr.
The Threat of Self-Radicalization
FBI officials highlighted the threat posed by people who self-radicalize online and are inspired by jihadist ideologies espoused by foreign terrorist organizations. Special Agent in Charge James Barnacle stated, "This investigation highlights the very real threat posed by people who self-radicalize online and are inspired by jihadist ideologies espoused by foreign terrorist organizations. They seek to attack soft targets with easily accessible weapons and with little to no warning." Barnacle also noted that most successful attackers radicalize in a time span between one and four years and typically mobilize to act in less than three months.
Apprehension and Aftermath
Sturdivant made his first appearance in court in Charlotte and is currently in federal custody, pending a hearing on January 7. Russ Ferguson, the United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, said it wasn’t Sturdivant’s intention to work alone, and he believed he was working directly with ISIS but was talking with two different undercover agents. Several agencies were involved in apprehending Sturdivant, including the New York Police Department, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Matthews Police Department, the Mint Hill Police Department, and multiple federal agencies. The successful thwarting of the potential attack is a testament to the collaboration and vigilance of law enforcement agencies in preventing terrorist threats.