FBI Stops Alleged New Year’s Eve Terror Plot in Mint Hill, North Carolina
A serious security threat was narrowly avoided in North Carolina as federal authorities say a planned New Year’s Eve terrorist attack was stopped just in time. According to the FBI, an 18-year-old man from Mint Hill, a small town outside Charlotte, had been preparing an attack on a grocery store and a nearby restaurant in what officials described as an Islamic State-inspired plot.
The suspect, Christian Sturdivant, was arrested on December 31 as he was being released from a special medical facility. It was later announced that he had been charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Federal prosecutors said the arrest came after months of investigation and careful monitoring of his activities.
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Investigators believe the attack had been planned for nearly a year. During a search of his home just days before New Year’s Eve, knives and hammers were found hidden under his bed. Alongside the weapons, handwritten notes were discovered that reportedly laid out detailed plans for a mass attack. Authorities said those notes showed an intention to target Jewish, Christian, and LGBTQ+ individuals. It was also revealed that the suspect expected to die during the attack, describing his goal as becoming a “martyr” by confronting police officers who would respond.
Officials explained that the radicalization process largely took place online. The suspect was said to have spent time on Islamic State-related websites and had posted supportive content on social media platforms, including TikTok. At one point, he attempted to formally pledge allegiance to the group through an online channel. Unknowingly, that pledge was made to an undercover New York Police Department agent.
Over several weeks in December, the suspect allegedly shared photos of weapons, sent voice messages expressing loyalty to ISIS, and even asked for help acquiring firearms. He also identified the grocery store he intended to attack, though authorities chose not to name the location for security reasons.
The FBI revealed that the suspect had come to their attention years earlier, when he was just 14 years old. At that time, he had been in online contact with an overseas ISIS-linked individual. His family intervened, no charges were filed, and he was referred for psychological care. The earlier investigation was eventually closed.
Now back in federal custody, the suspect has already appeared in court. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in federal prison. Officials emphasized that the case highlights both the dangers of online radicalization and the importance of early intervention and vigilance in preventing acts of mass violence.
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