US authorities arrest 18-year-old accused of plotting ISIL-inspired attack

An 18-year-old is accused of plotting a “potential terrorist attack” on New Year’s Eve in the Charlotte-area suburb of Mint Hill, North Carolina.

The suspect was identified as US citizen Christian Sturdivant, a resident of Mint Hill, on Friday, according to officials from the US Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). In Mint Hill, Sturdivant allegedly planned to open a fast-food restaurant and a grocery store.

At a press conference, US Attorney Russ Ferguson stated, “Counterless lives were saved here.”

Everyone is at the grocery store on New Year’s Eve. We’re all purchasing the celebration necessities. And there was a significant, significant loss of life and injury here.

Ferguson explained that Sturdivant’s planned attack was being detained on New Year’s Eve. The 18-year-old was accused of “attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization” on Friday in court.

According to Ferguson, Sturdivant could receive a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Ferguson, an appointee of President Donald Trump, made an appearance at his press conference to express his frustration with the judiciary for rejecting a previous attempt to detain Sturdivant on mental health grounds.

According to Ferguson, “It is noteworthy that the FBI attempted to have Mr. Sturdivant tried to have him involuntarily committed” as part of their efforts.

“And that was because he had threatened the lives of other people while also saying that he planned to die when a police officer shot him.” He threatened the lives of others and self-harm, so the state magistrate judge rejected his involuntary commitment.

Later, authorities made it clear that the magistrate judge’s hearing was scheduled for Monday, days before his arrest. According to them, Sturdivant turned 18 last month.

Details of the arrest

Officials stated at the news conference on Friday that Sturdivant’s arrest was a part of a multiyear investigation of the “prolific social media user” during the press conference.

The suspect had previously worked at a nearby Burger King in North Carolina.

The suspect first appeared to the FBI’s North Carolina field office in 2022, according to James Barnacle, the special agent in charge of the agency’s North Carolina field office.

ISIL is viewed as a foreign terrorist organization by the US, who has carried out numerous military operations in the Middle East, including one in Nigeria, with the intention of battling the group.

Barnacle claimed that Sturdivant had received instructions to open windows and hammer people, but his family intervened to stop him. At the time, he was only 14 years old.

At the time, Barnacle claimed, “No charges were filed.” I have no idea what kind of psychological care he received.

Barnacle claimed that the FBI found out about Sturdivant’s return to social media in December and that she had posted threatening messages.

Additionally, he allegedly communicated with two undercover officers, one from the FBI and the other from the New York Police Department.

According to Barnacle, “Sturdivant immediately messaged the online covert employee with a picture of two hammers and a knife.” The publication that promoted the use of knives in Western countries in recent years served as a significant example of the message.

Later messages, according to Barnacle, included a request for assistance obtaining firearms and an oath of loyalty to ISIL.

Barnacle remarked of the 18-year-old as “the JTTF]Joint Terrorism Task Force” collected evidence that demonstrated that he had pledged allegiance to ISIS with the intention of becoming a martyr.

We allege that Sturdivant offered to sacrifice himself by starting an Islamic State terrorist attack with knives and a hammer in support of the murder, torture, and extreme violence that ISIS represents.

According to reports from an FBI search of Sturdivant’s home, notes allegedly containing details about his attack plans and hammers and knives were discovered hidden beneath his bed.

“I could tell you that the FBI was monitoring this subject 24/7, including Christmas Day and Christmas Eve,” Barnacle said. He referred to “Jews, Christians, and LGBTQ people” as the suspect’s targets.

In a quick move, FBI Director Kash Patel praised his agency and its partners for “unquestionably saving lives” by promoting Sturdivant’s arrest on social media.

One year prior to a deadly New Year’s Day attack, a pickup truck driver intentionally rammed his car down Bourbon Street, New Orleans’s famed entertainment district.

Authorities found an ISIL flag in the truck after 14 people died.

Some defense attorneys argue that agents have encouraged suspects to make incriminating statements or take actions they otherwise would not have done. However, critics have questioned the use of undercover agents to make “terrorism-related” arrests.

Source: Aljazeera