North Carolina Youth Arrested for Plotting New Year’s ISIS Attack

Post by : Mina Rahman

An 18-year-old from North Carolina has been apprehended for orchestrating a mass attack on New Year's Eve, motivated by allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS). A search of his residence uncovered dangerous tools, including hammers and knives, alongside a detailed written plan for the assault.

Christian Sturdivant had aimed to target unsuspecting patrons at a grocery store and a Burger King. The FBI had been tracking his activities since 2022 and intervened when he attempted to contact individuals he believed were affiliated with ISIS, who were in fact undercover law enforcement officers.

In December, Sturdivant openly expressed his commitment to ISIS and discussed his intentions to carry out an attack. On December 29, agents seized a handwritten document entitled "The New Years Attack 2026," in which he outlined his desire to inflict harm on as many people as possible, specifically identifying non-Muslims, LGBTQ individuals, Jews, and Christians as targets.

During the search, agents found two hammers, two butcher knives, tactical gloves, and a vest hidden under his bed. Earlier, on December 14, he had provided an undercover agent with a video showcasing the weapons he planned to use.

Sturdivant faces charges of attempting to offer material assistance to a foreign terrorist organization. He has appeared in court in Charlotte and is currently in federal custody, where he could face a sentence of up to 20 years if convicted.