DOJ & FBI Thwarted Alleged ISIS-Inspired New Year's Eve Attack in North Carolina

Foiled Terrorist Attack in Mint Hill

• 🚨 A planned terrorist attack in Mint Hill, North Carolina, intended for New Year's Eve, was successfully thwarted by law enforcement.
• 🎯 The attack was planned in support of ISIS, with the defendant attempting to provide material support to the foreign terrorist organization.
• ⏳ The investigation involved around-the-clock work by the FBI, Mint Hill Police Department, and the New York Police Department, including surveillance on Christmas Day.

Defendant and Attack Details

• 👤 The defendant, 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant, had been planning the attack for about a year.
• 🛒 The planned targets were a grocery store and a fast-food restaurant in Mint Hill.
• 🔪 Sturdivant intended to use knives and hammers, wearing a Kevlar vest, to kill innocent people.
• 📝 A search of his home revealed hammers, knives hidden under his bed, and notes detailing his attack plans.

Investigation and Law Enforcement Actions

• 🕵️ Sturdivant first came to the FBI's attention in January 2022 as a juvenile, but no charges were filed at that time.
• 💻 He re-emerged on social media, communicating with an undercover agent posing as an ISIS member.
• 🤝 The investigation involved multiple FBI field offices, the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, and numerous partner agencies, including the NYPD.
• ⚠️ The FBI had the subject under 24/7 surveillance and was authorized to make an arrest if necessary.

Legal Proceedings and Public Safety

• ⚖️ Sturdivant was arrested on New Year's Eve and faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years.
• 🏥 An attempt to have Sturdivant involuntarily committed for psychological evaluation was denied by a state magistrate judge.
• 🗣️ Officials emphasized the importance of community vigilance and encouraged reporting suspicious activity, especially concerning individuals radicalizing online.
• 🤝 The success of thwarting the attack is attributed to the collaborative efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.