Federal authorities announced on Friday that they successfully disrupted an ISIS-inspired terrorist plot targeting everyday locations in Mint Hill, North Carolina, on New Year's Eve, arresting 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant who allegedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group and detailed plans for a violent knife-and-hammer assault.

Sturdivant, a U.S. citizen from the Charlotte suburb, was charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization after communicating his intentions to undercover FBI agents he believed were ISIS supporters, including specifics about attacking a local grocery store and fast-food restaurant while wearing protective gear.

Investigators revealed that Sturdivant had been planning the attack for approximately one year, with searches of his home uncovering hidden knives and hammers under his bed, tactical gloves, a Kevlar vest, and a handwritten manifesto titled "New Years Attack 2026" outlining his goal to stab numerous civilians, target groups including Jews, Christians, and LGBTQ individuals, and achieve martyrdom by engaging responding police.

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The case originated from social media monitoring last month, where Sturdivant's accounts posted pro-ISIS content referencing the late leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and promoting violence, leading to his interactions with undercover operatives where he pledged loyalty, discussed acquiring firearms, and finalized his New Year's Eve timeline, prompting 24-hour surveillance to ensure public safety.

This incident marks a prior FBI encounter with Sturdivant in January 2022 when, as a minor, he communicated with an overseas ISIS member, received instructions for hammer attacks, and attempted to assault a neighbor before being restrained by his grandfather, resulting in psychological treatment rather than charges, highlighting ongoing concerns about radicalization and mental health in such cases amid criticisms of potential entrapment in similar sting operations.

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