By PHILLIP NIETO, US POLITICAL REPORTER

Published: 16:17 GMT, 2 January 2026 | Updated: 18:47 GMT, 2 January 2026

The FBI announced it had stopped an ISIS 'potential terrorist attack' on New Year's Eve in North Carolina. 

Christian Sturdivant, 18, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.

The suspect allegedly planned to attack civilians with hammers and knives inside a grocery store and a fast food restaurant on New Year's Eve as an act of support for the Islamic State terrorist group. 

Sturdivant, from Mint Hill, a town just outside Charlotte, previously expressed hatred for Christians on social media, according to the FBI, which announced his arrest on social media.

The heinous terrorist plot was foiled after the 18-year-old began communicating online with an undercover government employee he allegedly believed to be affiliated with ISIS, according to Russ Ferguson, US attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. The individual is referred to in a criminal complaint as 'OC.' 

FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News: '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 Year's Eve attacker is the latest example of their tremendous work.

'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.'

The FBI thwarted a potential terrorist attack inspired by ISIS on New Year's Eve

Christian Sturdivant, 18, was arrested and charged for allegedly attempting to provide material support to ISIS

A note allegedly written by the suspect for the New Year's Eve attack

'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 US Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

Sturdivant provided 'OC' with an image of two hammers and a knife on December 14. 

Moreover, law enforcement uncovered various handwritten documents by Sturdivant during a December 29 search of his residence. 

One handwritten note read 'New years Attack 2026' along with a written list of items for the potential attack, including a vest, mask, tactical gloves, and two knives.

'It also listed a goal of stabbing as many civilians as possible and [the] total number of victims as 20 to 21. The note also included a section listed as "martyrdom Op," with a plan to attack police that arrived at the site of the attack so the defendant would die a martyr,' the Attorney’s Office noted.