An 18-year-old North Carolina man is charged with plotting a knife-and-hammer attack for ISIS after being monitored by undercover FBI agents.
WASHINGTON: An 18-year-old US man with a history of mental health issues was arrested on New Year’s Eve for allegedly planning an attack in the name of the Islamic State group.
A North Carolina judge ordered Christian Sturdivant to remain in custody until a further hearing on January 7.
He was charged with providing material support to a terrorist organization after undercover FBI agents posed as ISIS members.
“He pledged his allegiance to ISIS with that undercover agent, and he disclosed his plans to ‘do jihad’ soon,” said federal prosecutor Russ Ferguson.
Ferguson said Sturdivant revealed plans for a knife-and-hammer attack at a grocery store and fast-food restaurant in Mint Hill on New Year’s Eve.
“He said he was going to wear a Kevlar vest and attack people with knives and hammers,” Ferguson added.
Special Agent James Barnacle said the FBI had known of Sturdivant since 2022, when he was a minor in contact with an ISIS member online.
No charges were brought at that time, and he received psychological care before authorities were again alerted to his online activities.
Ferguson stressed the suspect was under 24-hour surveillance and that the public was never in harm’s way.
