Federal authorities in the United States have announced the disruption of an alleged terrorist attack planned for New Year's Eve in North Carolina, which they say was inspired by the Islamic State (IS) militant group.
Suspect Arrested After Year-Long Plot
Christian Sturdivant, an 18-year-old US citizen from Mint Hill near Charlotte, was taken into custody on 31 December. The arrest occurred as he was being released from a medical facility. He now faces a federal charge of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organisation.
US Attorney Russ Ferguson, representing the western district of North Carolina, detailed the case at a press conference on Friday. Investigators believe Sturdivant had been planning the assault for approximately a year. A search of his home on 29 December uncovered knives and hammers hidden under his bed, alongside detailed notes outlining his intentions.
According to prosecutors, the suspect's writings revealed his desire to target Jewish, Christian, and LGBTQ+ individuals at a local grocery store and restaurant. His notes also indicated a plan to achieve martyrdom by attacking police officers responding to the scene.
Online Radicalisation and Undercover Operation
Authorities stated that Sturdivant's radicalisation occurred primarily on Islamic State-affiliated websites. He was identified as the holder of a TikTok account that had posted multiple messages in support of the proscribed terrorist group.
His online activity eventually led him to pledge allegiance to IS on a website, unknowingly communicating with an undercover officer from the New York Police Department. Believing the officer to be a genuine ISIS affiliate, Sturdivant used various social media platforms to discuss his plans for the New Year's Eve attack.
FBI special agent James Barnacle explained that during December, the suspect sent the undercover agent a photograph of two hammers and a knife, a voice note pledging allegiance, and a request for assistance in obtaining firearms for the planned massacre. He also identified the specific grocery store he intended to target, though its name has not been publicly released.
Prior FBI Involvement and Psychological Care
Barnacle, who leads the FBI's Charlotte field office, revealed that Sturdivant was known to the bureau as early as 2022. At just 14 years old, he was found to be in contact via social media with an unidentified IS member overseas. That individual had allegedly instructed him to dress in black, knock on doors, and attack people with a hammer.
At that time, no charges were filed. Instead, Sturdivant's family intervened, and he was referred for psychological care and removed from social media, leading the FBI to close its initial investigation.
Christian Sturdivant made his initial court appearance on Friday morning and remains in federal custody. If convicted, he faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in a federal prison.
