The FBI and multiple police departments successfully thwarted an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack planned for New Year's Eve in North Carolina, arresting 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant on the very day he intended to carry out his deadly plot.
Russ Ferguson, U.S. attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, announced Friday that Sturdivant had been charged with attempted material support to a foreign terrorist organization. The suspect targeted a grocery store and fast food restaurant in the Charlotte area, according to federal authorities.
Social media users quickly spread news of the foiled attack, with @DenverChannel reporting: "The DOJ and FBI said they foiled an alleged plot to attack a grocery store and fast food restaurant on New Year's Eve in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area, arresting 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant."
Perhaps most concerning is the timeline of federal surveillance. @thisiskeena noted on social media: "CONCERNING 🚨: FBI says it foiled ISIS-inspired New Year's Eve 'terror attack' in North Carolina... Officials had been tracking him since 2022, as per affidavit."
Two Years of Monitoring
Court documents reveal that federal authorities had been monitoring Sturdivant's activities since 2022, raising questions about how long potential terrorists remain under surveillance before action is taken. The extended monitoring period suggests the suspect had been on the FBI's radar for radical behavior and potential terrorist sympathies for years.
This marks yet another attempted terror attack on American soil, highlighting the ongoing threats facing everyday Americans even during holiday celebrations. The targeting of civilian locations like grocery stores and restaurants demonstrates the cowardly nature of these ISIS-inspired attacks aimed at innocent families.
The successful prevention of this attack showcases the critical importance of robust domestic surveillance and intelligence operations in protecting American communities from radical Islamic terrorism. Without the vigilant work of our federal law enforcement agencies, families in North Carolina could have faced unthinkable tragedy on New Year's Eve.