US thwarts ISIS-linked attack in North Carolina

In US, the FBI said on Friday it foiled a potential ISIS-inspired attack in North Carolina planned for New Year's Eve and arrested an 18-year-old plotting it. The suspect, identified as Christian Sturdivant, was taken into custody on New Year's Eve after a months-long investigation. Authorities say the plot was disrupted before any harm could be carried out.According to the FBI, Sturdivant had been on their radar since January 2022, when he was still a minor. Investigators said he had been in contact with an ISIS member overseas and received instructions to dress in all black and commit attacks with a hammer. In a statement posted online, the FBI said, “The FBI and our law enforcement partners thwarted a potential terrorist attack on New Year's Eve in North Carolina. The subject was directly inspired to act by ISIS.”

The US department of justice on Friday said that it thwarted a knife-and-hammer attack that was orchestrated by a man in the name of the Islamic State armed group at Northern Carolina on new year's eve. US Attorney Russ Ferguson said the teenager had been planning the attack for nearly a year. “He was preparing for jihad, and innocent people were going to die,” Ferguson said during a press briefing. Investigators claim Sturdivant told an undercover officer that he was a “soldier of the state” and planned to attack on New Year's Eve.

‘He was preparing for JIHAD and innocent people were going to die’ — authorities give update on foiled alleged ISIS-inspired attack

‘The fact’ that ‘he encountered not one, but two undercover officers should make the public feel very, very good and very safe’ https://t.co/L566H1yVLH pic.twitter.com/uwn5Tg7dQY

— RT (@RT_com) January 2, 2026

Sturdivant was put under a 24-hour surveillance when it became clear that he was planning to stage an attack. He is ordered by a North Carolina judge to remain in custody until the next hearing that is scheduled on January 7