North Carolina – The US Justice Department announced on Friday that it successfully prevented a North Carolina ISIS attack plot that could have resulted in multiple casualties on New Year’s Eve. An 18-year-old man from Mint Hill, North Carolina, was arrested and charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization after planning a violent knife-and-hammer assault inspired by ISIS ideology.
Christian Sturdivant was taken into custody by federal agents on Wednesday following an extensive undercover operation that revealed his intention to carry out mass violence. The North Carolina ISIS attack plot was thwarted through coordinated efforts between multiple law enforcement agencies working to protect public safety.
Detailed Attack Plans Discovered
Federal Bureau of Investigation agents who searched Sturdivant’s home recovered crucial evidence of the North Carolina ISIS attack plot, including a handwritten note titled “New Years Attack 2026.” This document allegedly outlined detailed plans to stab up to 20 people and subsequently attack responding police officers.
The recovered note listed specific items to be used in the attack, including a vest, mask, tactical gloves, and two knives. According to prosecutors, the document stated a goal of stabbing as many civilians as possible, explicitly listing a target number of “20 to 21” victims. This chilling detail demonstrates the calculated nature of the North Carolina ISIS attack plot.
Martyrdom Operation Planning
The handwritten note included a section titled “martyrdom Op,” which allegedly outlined Sturdivant’s plan to attack responding police officers with the intention of dying as a martyr. This aspect of the North Carolina ISIS attack plot reveals the extremist ideology driving the planned violence and the suspect’s willingness to sacrifice his own life.
Law enforcement officials seized physical evidence from under Sturdivant’s bed, including a blue hammer, a wooden-handled hammer, and two butcher knives. These weapons were apparently staged and ready for use in the planned attack.
Undercover Operation Reveals Intent
The North Carolina ISIS attack plot was exposed through an undercover operation where FBI agents successfully infiltrated Sturdivant’s online communications. Prosecutors revealed that the alleged plot was foiled after Sturdivant began communicating online with an individual he believed was affiliated with ISIS, but who was actually a government online covert employee, referred to in the criminal complaint as “OC.”
During these online exchanges on December 14, Sturdivant allegedly sent the undercover operative an image of two hammers and a knife, demonstrating his commitment to carrying out the attack. He allegedly stated, “I will do jihad soon,” and described himself as “a soldier of the state,” meaning ISIS, according to the US Attorney’s Office.
Target Locations Identified
In subsequent conversations with the undercover operative, Sturdivant allegedly discussed plans to attack a specific grocery store in North Carolina. The North Carolina ISIS attack plot also included intentions to purchase a firearm to use along with knives during the assault, expanding the potential lethality of the planned violence.
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The suspect also mentioned plans to target a fast-food restaurant in the town of Mint Hill, indicating multiple locations were being considered for the attack. This multi-target approach would have complicated law enforcement response and potentially increased casualties.
FBI Director Comments on Prevention
FBI Director Kash Patel announced on Friday that authorities had successfully thwarted the North Carolina ISIS attack plot. He wrote on social media that the FBI and partners foiled another potential New Year’s Eve attack from an individual allegedly inspired by ISIS, thanking law enforcement partners for “working with us and undoubtedly saving lives.”
James C. Barnacle, Jr., special agent in charge of the FBI Charlotte Field Office, emphasized the Bureau’s mission to protect the American people. He stated that the case demonstrates the FBI’s dedication to do everything possible to protect North Carolina residents.
Social Media Activity and ISIS Support
The FBI in Charlotte received information on December 18 that Sturdivant was making multiple social media posts in support of ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization. These posts provided initial evidence of the developing North Carolina ISIS attack plot.
In one post from early December 2025, prosecutors said Sturdivant shared an image depicting two miniature figurines of Jesus with on-screen text stating, “May Allah curse the cross worshipers.” The Attorney’s Office described this post as consistent with ISIS’s historic practice of calling for the extermination of non-believers, including Christians and Muslims who do not adhere to the group’s extremist ideology.
Legal Proceedings and Custody
Sturdivant appeared before US District Judge Susan Rodriguez on Friday morning and was ordered to remain in federal custody. He has not yet entered a plea to the charge of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization. A hearing in the North Carolina ISIS attack plot case has been scheduled for January 7.
If convicted, Sturdivant faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. The case demonstrates the serious legal consequences for individuals who plan terrorist attacks on American soil.
Multi-Agency Collaboration
The successful prevention of the North Carolina ISIS attack plot resulted from collaboration between the FBI, Department of Justice, NYPD, Mint Hill Police Department, and Joint Terrorism Task Force partners. This coordinated effort was essential in investigating and disrupting what authorities described as a serious threat of violent attack against innocent civilians.
