Mint Hill, North Carolina, January 3, 2026
Federal authorities in North Carolina successfully disrupted a potential New Year’s Eve terror attack planned by an 18-year-old resident. Christian Sturdivant was arrested after being found in possession of weapons and detailed plans for a mass-casualty attack inspired by ISIS. The attack targeted a grocery store and a fast-food restaurant in Mint Hill. Authorities emphasized that the public was never in immediate danger as Sturdivant was under constant surveillance. He faces serious charges and a potential 20-year sentence if convicted.
North Carolina
Federal authorities in North Carolina have successfully thwarted a potential New Year’s Eve terror attack, leading to the arrest and charging of an 18-year-old suspect. The alleged plot, described as directly inspired by the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), targeted a grocery store and a fast-food restaurant in Mint Hill, a town near Charlotte.
Christian Sturdivant, an 18-year-old resident of Mint Hill, North Carolina, was arrested and subsequently charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. This significant development was announced on Friday, January 2, 2026, by the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina. Authorities have assured the public that at no point was there an immediate danger, as Sturdivant was under constant surveillance by federal agents during the planning stages of the alleged attack.
Details of the Alleged Plot
Investigators allege that Christian Sturdivant planned to use knives and hammers to carry out a mass-casualty attack on New Year’s Eve. Documents uncovered during a search of his residence on December 29, 2025, included a handwritten note titled “New Years Attack 2026.” This document reportedly detailed plans for the attack, listing items such as a vest, a mask, tactical gloves, and two knives to be used. The alleged goal was to stab as many civilians as possible, with a target of 20 to 21 victims. Furthermore, the notes included a section labeled “martyrdom Op,” outlining a plan to attack arriving police and die as a martyr. The targets of the attack were described as places frequented daily, specifically a grocery store and a fast-food restaurant in Mint Hill. Notes found also indicated a desire to target “Jews, Christians and LGBTQ individuals.”
Law enforcement officials seized several items from Sturdivant’s bedroom, hidden beneath his bed. These included a blue hammer, a wooden-handled hammer, and two butcher knives, aligning with the planned methods described in his notes.
Investigation and Arrest
The investigation into Sturdivant began on December 18, 2025, when the FBI in Charlotte received information regarding his social media activities, which reportedly showed multiple posts in support of ISIS. During the course of the investigation, Sturdivant allegedly communicated online with an individual he believed to be affiliated with ISIS. This individual was, in fact, an undercover FBI employee, referred to as an “online covert employee” (OC), and at one point, an undercover agent with the New York Police Department. Through these communications, Sturdivant allegedly shared his specific plans for the attack, including sending an image of two hammers and a knife on December 14, 2025. On December 19, 2025, he purportedly sent a voice recording to the OC, pledging his loyalty, or “Bayat,” to ISIS.
The criminal complaint against Sturdivant was filed on December 31, 2025, and subsequently unsealed after his appearance in federal court in Charlotte on Friday, January 2, 2026. He was arrested on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina Russ Ferguson stated that Sturdivant began his radicalization process online, reaching out to what he believed were ISIS members. FBI Special Agent in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. of the Charlotte Field Office emphasized the critical collaboration between federal and local law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Justice, NYPD, and the Mint Hill Police Department, in disrupting this serious threat.
Background and Ongoing Vigilance
Authorities revealed that Christian Sturdivant had previously come to the attention of the FBI in January 2022, when he was a minor. At that time, he allegedly made contact through social media with an individual in Europe believed to be an ISIS member and received instructions to attack people with a hammer. His family reportedly intervened before any violence occurred, and he was referred for psychological treatment.
This incident underscores the ongoing vigilance required nationwide to counter domestic terrorism threats, particularly those inspired by foreign terrorist organizations like ISIS. The FBI and its partners continue to work tirelessly to identify and neutralize such threats, often employing sophisticated techniques, including undercover operations, to prevent attacks and protect communities. If convicted, Sturdivant faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson highlighted that the successful collaboration among federal and local law enforcement agencies saved lives from what could have been a horrific terrorist attack. The Department of Justice remains committed to pursuing individuals who sympathize with ISIS and plot such attacks, ensuring they face the full force of the law.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What event did the FBI thwart?
- The FBI thwarted a potential New Year’s Eve terror attack.
- Where was the alleged terror attack planned?
- The alleged terror attack was planned for a grocery store and a fast-food restaurant in Mint Hill, a town near Charlotte, North Carolina.
- Who was arrested in connection with the plot?
- Christian Sturdivant, an 18-year-old from Mint Hill, North Carolina, was arrested.
- What was the inspiration behind the alleged plot?
- The alleged plot was directly inspired by the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).
- What charges does Christian Sturdivant face?
- Christian Sturdivant was charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
- What weapons were allegedly to be used in the attack?
- The suspect allegedly planned to use knives and hammers in the attack.
- When did the FBI investigation begin?
- The FBI investigation began on December 18, 2025, when the FBI in Charlotte received information about Sturdivant’s social media posts supporting ISIS.
- Was the public ever in harm’s way?
- Authorities assured the public that at no point was there an immediate danger, as Sturdivant was under constant surveillance by federal agents.
- What is the maximum sentence if convicted?
- If convicted, Christian Sturdivant faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
Key Features of the Thwarted Attack
| Feature | Detail | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Event | Thwarted New Year’s Eve terror attack | State-level (North Carolina) |
| Location | Mint Hill, near Charlotte, North Carolina (targeting a grocery store and fast-food restaurant) | State-level (North Carolina) |
| Suspect | Christian Sturdivant, 18 years old | State-level (North Carolina) |
| Charge | Attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization | Nationwide (Federal charge) |
| Inspiration | Directly inspired by ISIS | Nationwide (Threat inspiration) |
| Planned Weapons | Knives and hammers | State-level (North Carolina) |
| Planned Targets | Civilians in a grocery store and fast-food restaurant; “Jews, Christians and LGBTQ individuals”; police as part of a “martyrdom Op” | State-level (North Carolina) |
| Arrest Date | Wednesday, December 31, 2025 | State-level (North Carolina) |
| Announcement Date | Friday, January 2, 2026 | Nationwide (Justice Department announcement) |
| Maximum Sentence (if convicted) | 20 years in federal prison | Nationwide (Federal penalty) |
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Author: HERE Charlotte
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