BREAKING: FBI thwarts potential NYE 'jihad' attack on Charlotte grocery store, 18-year-old in custody

The FBI thwarted a potential ISIS-inspired New Year's Eve terror attack, according to the agency, which posted about the effort on Friday. This comes after the FBI has said that there were multiple other planned New Year's Eve terror attacks this year that were stopped. The suspect in the case was an 18-year-old who had been on the FBI's radar for years.

The Charlotte FBI office posted to X, "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 @USAO_WDNC and FBI Special Agent in Charge will announce details at an 11:30 am news conference in Charlotte."

Christian Sturdivant, 18, of Mint Hill, is the suspect in the case. Sturdivant had been planning to commit "jihad" and had contacted an undercover officer before attempting to conduct the terror attack. Authorities said that he wanted to target Christians, Jews, as well as those in the LGBTQ community. He has been charged with attempted material support of ISIS in the case but may face more charges.

"During his online communications with the OC [online covert employee], 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 press conference. "In subsequent online communications with the OC, Sturdivant indicated that he planned to attack a specific grocery store in North Carolina and discussed plans to purchase a firearm to use along with the knives during the attack," the attorney added.

Authorities said that Sturdivant had a “manifesto” where he said that he wanted to commit a “massacre” on New Year’s Eve.

Authorities found weapons in the suspect’s home. Sturdivant, after being in contact with undercover agents with plans for the attack, was arrested by authorities on New Year's Eve. While searching the home, authorities also found "a manifesto, which the federal complaint alleges contained detailed plans to execute a massacre on New Year's Eve."

Sturdivant had come into the FBI's radar in 2022, authorities said, and "was in contact via social media with an unidentified ISIS member overseas. Sturdivant received direction from the asylum identified ISIS member to dress in black, knock on people's doors and attack them with a hammer."

Authorities said that at this point in the investigation, they believe he worked alone in planning the attack and that he had a history of mental illness. The agency attempted to involuntarily commit him, but were denied. Sturdivant was employed at a Burger King at the time of his arrest.