The FBI announced it had stopped an ISIS ‘potential terrorist attack’ for New Year’s Eve in North Carolina.
The suspect accused of plotting the alleged attack was inspired to act by the ISIS terrorist group, according to the FBI.
Christian Sturdivant, 18, was arrested and charged for allegedly attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, according to U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina Russ Ferguson.
The suspect reportedly planned to attack civilians inside a grocery store in North Carolina on New Year’s Eve as an act of support for the Islamic State terrorist group.
Sturdivant is from Mint Hill, a town just outside Charlotte, North Carolina. The FBI’s field office in Charlotte made the announce on social media.
‘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 Years Eve attacker is the latest example of their tremendous work,” said FBI Director Kash Patel to Fox News.
‘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.’
Sturdivant heinous terrorist plot was foiled after the 18-year-old began communicating online with an undercover government employee he ‘believed to be affiliated with ISIS.’ The undercover individual is referred to in a criminal complain as ‘OC.’
‘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 U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement.
