ISIS plot to attack on New Year's Eve in the US foiled; FBI arrests youth:

News Topical, Digital Desk : The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced on Friday that it successfully thwarted a potential terrorist attack in North Carolina on New Year's Eve (December 31, 2025) that was directly inspired by the Islamic State (ISIS ) .

"The FBI and our law enforcement partners prevented a potential terrorist attack on New Year's Eve in North Carolina. The attacker was directly inspired by ISIS ," the FBI's Charlotte Field Office said in a post on the social media platform X.

FBI Director Kash Patel also wrote on X , "The FBI and partners thwarted another potential ISIS -inspired New Year's Day attack. This undoubtedly saved many lives. Thank you to our Joint Terrorism Task Force and regional partners."

The accused has been identified as 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant, a resident of Mint Hill, near Charlotte. He has been arrested on a charge of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Russell Ferguson, US Attorney for the Western District of California, said at a news conference on Friday that Sturdivant had been planning the attack for about a year. He was preparing to attack a grocery store and a fast food restaurant with knives and hammers. "He was preparing to wage jihad and kill innocent people. He considered himself an ISIS soldier and was planning to attain martyrdom," Ferguson said.

According to court documents, Sturdivant had been under FBI surveillance since January 2022, when he was a minor. At that time, he was in contact with an ISIS member abroad who instructed him to dress in black and carry out attacks with a hammer. In December 2025, he posted pro- ISIS messages on social media expressing hatred against Christians.

A search of his home on December 29 , 2025, revealed a handwritten document titled " New Year's Attack 2026," which detailed plans to stab 20–21 people and attack arriving police. Two hammers, knives, and other weapons were also recovered from his bedroom.

Ferguson said Sturdivant contacted undercover agents in December, whom he believed to be ISIS members. He explained his plan and expressed his desire to purchase a gun. "This was a well-planned plot, but our teams responded in time and stopped it," said FBI Special Agent in Charge James Barnacle.