FBI Thwarts ISIS-Inspired New Year's Eve Attack in North Carolina
Charlotte, Friday, 2 January 2026.
Federal agents arrested an 18-year-old North Carolina man plotting a knife and hammer attack on local businesses New Year’s Eve, seizing a manifesto titled “New Years Attack 2026.”
Thwarting a Domestic Threat
Federal law enforcement officials have successfully disrupted a planned terrorist attack in the Charlotte metropolitan area, arresting 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2025 [1][2]. Sturdivant, a resident of Mint Hill, North Carolina, allegedly plotted to execute an ISIS-inspired assault on local commercial establishments using knives and hammers [1][3]. The arrest follows a meticulous investigation by the FBI and the United States Attorney’s Office, culminating in charges of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization [1][3]. If convicted, Sturdivant faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison [1][2].
Anatomy of the Plot
The investigation revealed that the suspect had allegedly drafted a handwritten manifesto titled “New Years Attack 2026,” which law enforcement discovered during a search of his residence on December 29, 2025 [2][3]. The document detailed a disturbing objective to stab “as many civilians as possible” [1]. Specific targets identified in the plot included a fast-food restaurant—specifically the Burger King where Sturdivant was employed—and a local grocery store [2][4]. Prosecutors noted that the suspect had set specific casualty goals, intending to attack at least eight people at the restaurant and 11 at the grocery store [6].
Surveillance and Interception
The operation to neutralize the threat hinged on Sturdivant’s digital communications. In mid-December 2025, the suspect began communicating with an undercover government employee whom he believed to be an affiliate of ISIS [3][6]. On December 14, 2025, Sturdivant allegedly transmitted an image of his weapons—two hammers and a knife—to the undercover operative [3][6]. This was followed by a voice recording sent on December 19, 2025, in which he pledged “Bayat,” or a loyalty oath, to the terrorist organization [6]. FBI Special Agent in Charge James Barnacle highlighted that this case underscores the persistent threat of individuals who self-radicalize online through exposure to jihadist ideologies [3][4].
Recurring Patterns of Radicalization
While the immediate threat was neutralized with Sturdivant’s arrest, this was not the suspect’s first encounter with federal authorities regarding violent conduct. In 2020, at the age of 14, Sturdivant was investigated by the FBI for planning an attack on his neighbors using a hammer [2][4]. At that time, his family intervened, and he was referred for psychological care rather than facing criminal charges [3][4]. Despite family members attempting to secure potential weapons away from him recently, agents found two hammers and two butcher knives hidden under his bed during the December 29 search [1][6]. U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson characterized the 2025 plot as “well-planned out” and “thoughtful,” noting that the suspect was fully “preparing for jihad” [2][6].