US says it thwarted potential IS-inspired New Year's Eve attack

The US Justice Department said on Friday it thwarted an alleged plan by a North Carolina man to carry out an IS-inspired attack using knives and hammers on New Year’s Eve.

Christian Sturdivant, 18, of Mint Hill, North Carolina, was charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organisation, according to a criminal complaint.

Sturdivant has not yet entered a plea on the charges. He was arrested on Wednesday, New Year's Eve, and made his first court appearance on Friday.

He had pledged allegiance to IS and planned to attack a grocery store and fast food restaurant in his hometown, Russ Ferguson, the US Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, told reporters during a press conference.

FBI agents searching Sturdivant’s home found a handwritten document titled 'New Years Attack 2026', which allegedly discussed plans to stab up to 20 victims and attack responding police officers.

Agents seized hammers and knives from his bedroom, according to a Justice Department statement, which cited information in a criminal complaint.

Sturdivant had planned the attack for about a year and communicated online in December with two undercover agents with the FBI and New York Police Department, whom he thought were affiliated with IS.

He shared photos of two hammers and a knife and discussed plans for a coming attack, according to the complaint.

Sturdivant came on the FBI's radar initially in 2022 when, as a juvenile, he was in contact with an unidentified IS member overseas and took steps to carry out an attack with a hammer.

He was not charged in that incident and instead underwent psychological treatment, according to law enforcement officials.