US authorities say they have foiled a New Year’s Eve attack plan in North Carolina and have arrested 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant, who is accused of planning to attack a grocery store and a restaurant using knives and hammers in support of the Islamic State Group. He has been charged with attempting to provide material related to a foreign terrorist organisation. Authorities declared that they halted the operation before any casualties occurred, and Sturdivant continues to be in custody following his appearance in a federal court in Charlotte.
Investigators claim that Sturdivant intended to do a mass casualty attack on New York eve, using knives and hammers against shoppers and customers.
Who is Christian Sturdivant, and where is he from?
Christian Sturviant is an 18-year old resident of Mint Hill, a suburban town near Charlotte in North Carolina. As per an Associated Press report, he worked at a Burger King restaurant. AP in its report mentioned that a handwritten note was found in a trash can at his home listed planned attacks at a Burger King restaurant. However, the investigators have not confirmed if it was the same Burger King outlet mentioned in his plans. According to court filings, Sturviant resided with a relative who attempted to conceal sharp tools within the house to prevent him from using them.
What has he been accused of?
As per a press release by the DOJ, the FBI started probing Sturdivant in December 2025 after linking him to his social media post related to supporting ISIS. He later began texting an undercover FBI employee he believed was part of the group. In those conversations, officials mentioned that he wrote, “I will do jihad soon” and described himself as “a soldier of the state”, referring to ISIS. The complaint also says he pledged “Bayat” or a loyalty oath to ISIS, in a voice note, as quoted by DOJ press release.
How did the investigators spoil his plan?
On December 29, 2025, agents conducted a search in his home and seized handwritten notes, including a document with a title “New Years Attack 2026.” The listed items included knives, gloves, a mask, and a vest. It also has a plan to stab as many people as possible and to target around 20-21 victims, as per AP. The note also had a section labelled “martyrdom op” in which he stated about attacking responding officers so he could “die a martyr,” as reported by AP.
Investigators have also collected two hammers, two butcher knives, and a list of targets that was hidden under his bed. AP further reported that FBI officials said Sturvidant “was willing to sacrifice himself,” as per a statement given by FBI Special Agent in Charge James Barnacle.
Sturdivant had earlier come under the FBI lens in January 2022, when he was still a minor. He was after communicating with a suspected ISIS member in Europe who inspired him to carry out attacks by using a hammer. At that time, he allegedly left his home with a hammer and a knife and was stopped by his grandfather, as per the affidavit.
Authorities mentioned that Sturdivant was put under constant surveillance in the days before New Year’s Eve and was arrested before he could leave home with weapons. If he is proven guilty, then he will face up to 20 years in prison.
