A 18-year-old has been charged with planning a potential New Year's Eve terror attack in North Carolina. Christian Sturdivant, a U.S. citizen, allegedly attempted to carry out a knife and hammer attack against random individuals in support of ISIS. According to court records, he planned to target a grocery store or a Burger King, motivated by the deaths of two national guardsmen killed earlier that month.
Sturdivant, who turned 18 last month, is said to have started reading ISIS material online and making TikTok videos before reaching out to what he thought was an ISIS member. In reality, the person was an undercover agent with the NYPD. He pledged his allegiance to ISIS and disclosed his plans to "do jihad soon."
During a search of his home, investigators allegedly found a handwritten document titled "The New Years Attack" listing a goal of stabbing as many civilians as possible and a total number of victims between 20 or 21. Authorities also found an alleged handwritten note professing a plea for Jihad.
Sturdivant's alleged notes showed he was seeking the "pure destruction of America and the west." He allegedly communicated with an alleged member of ISIS, who encouraged him to carry out a knife attack against his neighbor using a hammer. The suspect claimed he would target "Christian pagans and LGBTQ" individuals, with a code name for the day so that when it happens, ISIS can claim responsibility.
Sturdivant attempted to acquire a gun from an undercover FBI agent while discussing planning an attack. On December 27, he allegedly told the (undercover agent) he was preparing for martyrdom. During the search of his home, investigators found a hammer and a note outlining two alleged attacks - one at Burger King titled "Burger King Jihad" and another at a grocery store.
Sturdivant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years if convicted. He has been charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terror organization.
Sturdivant, who turned 18 last month, is said to have started reading ISIS material online and making TikTok videos before reaching out to what he thought was an ISIS member. In reality, the person was an undercover agent with the NYPD. He pledged his allegiance to ISIS and disclosed his plans to "do jihad soon."
During a search of his home, investigators allegedly found a handwritten document titled "The New Years Attack" listing a goal of stabbing as many civilians as possible and a total number of victims between 20 or 21. Authorities also found an alleged handwritten note professing a plea for Jihad.
Sturdivant's alleged notes showed he was seeking the "pure destruction of America and the west." He allegedly communicated with an alleged member of ISIS, who encouraged him to carry out a knife attack against his neighbor using a hammer. The suspect claimed he would target "Christian pagans and LGBTQ" individuals, with a code name for the day so that when it happens, ISIS can claim responsibility.
Sturdivant attempted to acquire a gun from an undercover FBI agent while discussing planning an attack. On December 27, he allegedly told the (undercover agent) he was preparing for martyrdom. During the search of his home, investigators found a hammer and a note outlining two alleged attacks - one at Burger King titled "Burger King Jihad" and another at a grocery store.
Sturdivant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years if convicted. He has been charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terror organization.
this is really concerning, I mean we've heard about kids getting radicalized online before, but to think that it happened in the US and right before New Year's Eve makes me nervous. 18 is such a young age to be making plans for something so violent and destructive 
i'm glad that the authorities were able to catch him before he could carry out his plan, but it just goes to show how easily you can get misinformed online and led astray.
I'm not gonna lie, it's crazy that this guy thought he was doing something for ISIS, but really just got caught by the cops 
. It makes me think about how easy it is to get sucked into online radicalism and extremist ideologies 
. And what's even scarier is that he had actual plans to hurt people, like stabbing civilians at a Burger King 
.
. But I wish there was more focus on mental health and getting these kids help before they resort to this stuff 
.
. His desire for "pure destruction" is just a sickening mentality that needs to be stopped ASAP 
. And can we talk about how vulnerable our youth are right now? It's like they're being fed this toxic information and thinking it's the coolest thing ever 
.
. And to all the young people out there, let's please be careful what we're exposed to online and try not to get sucked into this kind of extremist ideology 
.
... I mean, what's next? A TikTok dance challenge to fund ISIS? 
Just kidding, this is super serious. Dude was talking about stabbing innocent people at a Burger King - that's some crazy stuff, fam! 
I'm glad the undercover agent played the long game and didn't let him get his hands on a real gun 
his 'alleged' notes r more like his diary entries or somethin, idk how serious ppl need 2 b, chill 
can't believe how young ppl r gettin involved in this stuff 
how did he even stumble upon that online? TikTok vids and whatnot 
anyway, 20 yrs max if convicted?