Christian Sturdivant – ISIS-inspired attack North Carolina / FBI

The FBI Charlotte thwarted an ISIS-inspired terror attack planned for New Year’s Eve.

According to the Justice Department, 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant of Mint Hill was planning to carry out a New Year’s Eve attack at a grocery store with knives and hammers.

Sturdivant was allegedly communicating online with what he thought was a person associated with ISIS, but turned out to be an undercover fed.

“During his online communications with the OC, Sturdivant said, ‘I will do jihad soon,’ and proclaimed he was ‘a soldier of the state,’ meaning ISIS,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said, according to Fox News.

“In subsequent online communications with the OC, Sturdivant indicated that he planned to attack a specific grocery store in North Carolina and discussed plans to purchase a firearm to use along with the knives during the attack,” the DOJ said.

Fox News reported:

The FBI disrupted an alleged plot to attack people inside a grocery store in North Carolina on New Year’s Eve in support of the Islamic State terrorist group, prosecutors revealed Friday.

Christian Sturdivant, 18, of Mint Hill — a town outside Charlotte — was arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina Russ Ferguson said.

“The FBI and our partners continued working 24/7 over the holidays protecting the American people, and this case out of Charlotte foiling another alleged New Years Eve attacker is the latest example of their tremendous work,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Our teams quickly identified the threat and acted decisively — no doubt saving American lives in the process. Thanks to our Joint Terrorism Task Force and regional partners both in New York and Western North Carolina for their efforts.”

Director Kash Patel said the FBI Charlotte will be holding a press conference shortly with more information.

The @FBI and partners foiled another potential New Year’s Eve attack from an individual allegedly inspired by ISIS.@FBICharlotte will be speaking at a press conference shortly with more details.
Thanks to our great partners for working with us and undoubtedly saving lives.

— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) January 2, 2026

WATCH LIVE:

WATCH LIVE: FBI holds news conference on thwarted potential New Year’s Eve terror attack https://t.co/u08CYU7IRW

— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 2, 2026

Last week the FBI thwarted an ISIS-inspired attack in Texas.

“John Michael Garza, Jr., 21, of Midlothian, Texas, was charged last week by federal complaint with the offense of attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization after he brought various bomb-making materials to a meeting on Monday evening, Dec. 22, and gave them to an individual he allegedly believed was an ISIS “brother.”” the DOJ said.

“In reality, Garza met with an undercover agent. During the meeting, Garza described how to mix the components and offered to send an instructional video explaining how to build the bomb. Law enforcement agents arrested Garza shortly after he left the meeting,” the DOJ said.