The Federal Bureau of Investigation has announced the disruption of a planned terrorist attack in North Carolina, which was allegedly scheduled to take place on New Year's Eve. Authorities state the plot was inspired by the Islamic State (IS) terror group.
Suspect Arrested and Charged
Christian Sturdivant, an 18-year-old US citizen from Mint Hill near Charlotte, was arrested on 31 December. The arrest occurred as he was being released from a specialised medical facility. The US Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, Russ Ferguson, confirmed the charges at a press conference on Friday morning.
Sturdivant faces a single count of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organisation. If found guilty, he could receive a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in federal prison. The suspect made his initial court appearance on Friday and remains in federal custody.
Details of the Alleged Plot
Investigators believe Sturdivant had been planning the assault for approximately a year. A search of his home on 29 December uncovered knives and hammers concealed under his bed, alongside detailed notes outlining his intentions.
According to officials, these notes revealed his desire to target Jews, Christians, and LGBTQ+ individuals at a local grocery store and restaurant. He allegedly planned to die as a "martyr" by attacking police officers who responded to the scene. The specific name of the targeted grocery store has not been disclosed by authorities.
Online Radicalisation and Undercover Operation
The FBI stated that Sturdivant's radicalisation occurred primarily online via Islamic State-affiliated websites. He was identified as the holder of a TikTok account that posted multiple messages supporting the terrorist group.
His subsequent attempt to pledge allegiance to IS on an online platform was, unbeknownst to him, directed at an undercover New York Police Department agent. Over the course of December, Sturdivant communicated with this agent, whom he believed to be an ISIS affiliate, on various social media platforms.
FBI Special Agent James Barnacle, who leads the bureau's Charlotte field office, detailed the communications. Sturdivant reportedly sent a photograph of two hammers and a knife, a voice note pledging allegiance, and a request for assistance in obtaining firearms for the attack.
Previous FBI Contact and Intervention
Barnacle revealed that Sturdivant was known to the FBI as early as 2022, when he was just 14 years old. At that time, he was found to be in contact via social media with an unidentified IS member overseas.
That individual had allegedly instructed the teenager to dress in black, knock on people's doors, and attack them with a hammer. Following this discovery, Sturdivant's family intervened. No charges were filed at that stage; instead, he was referred for psychological care, his social media access was restricted, and the FBI closed its initial investigation.
The recent case underscores the persistent threat of online radicalisation and the ongoing efforts of US law enforcement to monitor and intercept potential domestic terror plots.
