FBI Thwarts Islamic State-inspired New Year’s Eve Terror Plot in North Carolina
The FBI has foiled a terror attack planned for New Year’s Eve at a grocery store and restaurant in North Carolina. The suspect, Christian Sturdivant, 18, from Mint Hill near Charlotte, was arrested on December 31 as he was being released from a special medical facility. He faces charges of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years if convicted.
Investigations reveal that the plot developed over approximately one year. Authorities found knives, hammers, and detailed massacre notes at Sturdivant’s home. These notes specified that his targets included Jews, Christians, and LGBTQ+ individuals. Furthermore, he intended to die as a martyr by confronting police at the scene.
Sturdivant’s radicalization occurred online through Islamic State websites. He maintained a TikTok account featuring multiple posts endorsing IS. After pledging allegiance on an IS site, he communicated with an individual he believed was an IS affiliate through online platforms. An undercover officer from the New York Police Department was involved in this interaction. Subsequently, Sturdivant sought assistance in obtaining firearms to carry out the attack.
