‘ISIS-Inspired’ New Year’s Eve Terror Plot Foiled In North Carolina, 18-Year-Old Arrested: FBI | world news

By Samira Vishwas On Jan 3, 2026

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Friday said it had thwarted a potential terrorist attack planned for New Year’s Eve in North Carolina, arresting an 18-year-old who was allegedly inspired by the Islamic State (ISIS).

The FBI said the suspect, identified as Christian Sturdivant, had allegedly planned a violent attack targeting a grocery store in Mint Hill. The agency added that the accused was directly inspired by ISIS propaganda.

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The #FBI thwarted a potential terrorist attack on New Year’s Eve in North Carolina. The subject was directly inspired to act by ISIS. A federal criminal complaint alleges 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant planned a violent attack at a grocery store in Mint Hill. SAC Barnacle… pic.twitter.com/njn7XBQTAC— FBI Charlotte (@FBICharlotte) January 2, 2026

According to officials, the accused had been planning the attack for nearly a year and was planning to target a grocery store and a fast-food outlet in Mint Hill using knives and hammers while wearing protective gear on New Year’s Eve. Officials added that a search of the accused’s home later found weapons, handwritten notes and other materials linked to the planned attack.

US Attorney Russ Ferguson said in a statement, “He (Sturdivant) has been planning this attack for about a year, but he’s been planning an attack uh for far longer than that. He was planning this attack in support of ISIS, and we have charged them with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. That organization being of course ISIS.”

Officials said the accused was preparing for jihad and that innocent people were at risk of being killed, adding that authorities were very fortunate to have prevented the attack.

“The FBI executed a search warrant at his home and they found the instrumentalities of the attack. They found hammers, knives hidden under his bed. They found notes for how he was going to carry out this attack. It was a very well-planned, thoughtful attack that he had planned and that was fortunately foiled here. He was preparing for jihad and innocent people were going to die and we’re very, very fortunate they did not,” Ferguson added.