Federal authorities announced Friday that the FBI stopped a planned New Year’s Eve terror attack in North Carolina, arresting an 18-year-old suspect accused of plotting a violent jihad-inspired assault on civilians.
Christian Sturdivant was taken into custody in Mint Hill, North Carolina, after investigators uncovered what prosecutors described as a detailed plan to carry out an attack at a local supermarket and a fast food restaurant.
The arrest, officials said, came after months of monitoring and investigative work that ultimately prevented bloodshed.
At a Friday news conference, Russ Ferguson, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, said the suspect had spent more than a year preparing for the attack.
According to Ferguson, Sturdivant told investigators he planned to wear a Kevlar vest and attack people using knives and hammers.
Authorities said the seriousness of the threat became clear when agents executed a search warrant at the suspect’s home. Ferguson said law enforcement found knives and hammers hidden under Sturdivant’s bed, along with handwritten notes outlining his plans for the attack. The materials, officials said, directly supported the allegation that the plot was real and imminent.
Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel weighed in on the case earlier Friday, posting on X that the suspect behind the foiled attack was “allegedly inspired by ISIS.” Federal officials have repeatedly warned about the continued threat posed by individuals radicalized online or inspired by foreign terrorist organizations, even without direct overseas contact.
Attorney General Pam Bondi described the alleged plot as “horrific” and emphasized that the Justice Department remains aggressive in pursuing terrorism cases. In a statement, Bondi said the department is vigilant in its pursuit of ISIS sympathizers and warned that anyone plotting such attacks would face the full force of the law.
“The Department of Justice remains vigilant in our pursuit of evil ISIS sympathizers — anyone plotting to commit such depraved attacks will face the full force of the law,” Bondi said.
The announcement comes amid heightened attention to terrorism-related investigations nationwide. Federal authorities also pointed to a recent case in Texas as another example of ongoing threats.
Just days earlier, the Justice Department announced charges against John Michael Garza Jr., a 21-year-old from Midlothian, Texas, who was accused of providing bomb-making materials to an undercover agent he believed was an ISIS “brother.”
According to federal officials, Garza was arrested after bringing various explosive materials to a meeting with the undercover agent on Dec. 22. Prosecutors said the case underscored the continued efforts by extremists to carry out or support attacks inside the United States.
Together, the cases highlight what authorities describe as the persistent danger posed by radicalized individuals and the role of federal law enforcement in disrupting plots before they turn deadly.
Officials credited coordinated investigative work for stopping the North Carolina attack before it could be carried out, stressing that public safety remains the top priority as the new year begins.
[READ MORE: Coast Guard Hunts for Narco-Terrorist Survivors After U.S. Strikes Sink Drug Boats]
