Mint Hill ISIS-Inspired Plot Disrupted Before New Year
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60-Second Summary
Mint Hill, North Carolina — Federal authorities announced Friday they arrested an 18-year-old who allegedly planned an ISIS-inspired attack on New Year's Eve targeting a grocery store and fast-food restaurant. Christian Sturdivant, whom agents say they monitored since 2022, communicated online with people he believed were ISIS operatives and with undercover FBI agents, pledging allegiance. Agents executed a search warrant Dec. 29, recovering knives, hammers and a handwritten plan titled "New Years Attack 2026." Prosecutors charged him with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization; he remains in federal custody. Based on 11 articles reviewed and supporting research.
About this summary
This 60-second summary was prepared by the JQJO editorial team after reviewing 9 original reports from The Straits Times, WCCB Charlotte's CW, WGXA, KTVB 7, News 4 Jax, WBRZ, https://www.wbtv.com, KPTV.com and 710 KURV - The Valley's News/Talk Station.
Timeline of Events
- Jan 2022 — Subject first appeared on FBI radar after extremist social media contact and alleged attempt interrupted by family.
- 2022–2025 — Periodic monitoring by federal agents following extremist-sympathetic posts linked to the subject.
- Dec 12–18, 2025 — Online communications included pledges and extremist language; FBI received actionable information mid-December.
- Dec 29, 2025 — Search warrant executed; agents recovered knives, hammers and a handwritten document labeled "New Years Attack 2026."
- Dec 31, 2025–Jan 2, 2026 — Arrested Dec. 31; prosecutors charged him and officials held a Jan. 2 press conference.
- Articles Published:
- 11
- Right Leaning:
- 0
- Left Leaning:
- 0
- Neutral:
- 11
- Distribution:
- Left 0%, Center 100%, Right 0%
Law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and community safety efforts benefited by preventing casualties and gaining actionable intelligence to reduce immediate threat risk.
Potential victims and local residents suffered increased fear and disruption due to the planned attack and subsequent investigative activity.
After reading and researching latest news.... The FBI arrested Christian Sturdivant after undercover investigation stemming from social media contacts dating to 2022; agents recovered knives, hammers and a handwritten plan and charged him with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, and he remains in federal custody.
Coverage of Story:
From Left
No left-leaning sources found for this story.
From Center
Mint Hill ISIS-Inspired Plot Disrupted Before New Year
The Straits Times WCCB Charlotte's CW WGXA KTVB 7 News 4 Jax WBRZ https://www.wbtv.com KPTV.com 710 KURV - The Valley's News/Talk Station https://www.wbtv.com https://www.wbtv.comFrom Right
No right-leaning sources found for this story.
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