The FBI has a lot on their plates. But this takes precedence.
Because a holiday terrorist attack sent the FBI into complete chaos.
FBI Stops Planned ISIS-Inspired Attack in North Carolina
The FBI announced it had thwarted a terrifying New Year’s Eve attack in North Carolina, likely saving many lives during one of the busiest celebration nights of the year. An 18-year-old from Mint Hill, just outside Charlotte, was arrested after agents uncovered his detailed plans to carry out violence in the name of ISIS.
FBI Director Kash Patel didn’t mince words: “The accused allegedly wanted to be a soldier for ISIS and made plans to commit a violent attack on New Year’s Eve in support of that terrorist group, but the FBI and our partners put a stop to that.”
He added that the quick action “undoubtedly” prevented tragedy.
How Agents Uncovered the Threat
It all started in mid-December when the FBI spotted troubling activity on social media. From there, investigators moved fast—using online undercover work to connect with the suspect, who thought he was talking directly to ISIS recruiters.
When agents searched his home on December 29, they found chilling evidence: a handwritten note titled “New Years Attack 2026.”
In it, he described plans to use knives, a hammer, a vest, mask, and tactical gloves to stab as many as 21 people at a grocery store and a fast-food restaurant before forcing police to shoot him.
U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson called it sobering: “He was preparing for jihad, and innocent people were going to die. And we were very, very fortunate they did not.” He noted the young man had been planning this for about a year.
Teamwork That Kept People Safe
The arrest happened smoothly on New Year’s Eve as the suspect left a medical appointment. It was a textbook example of cooperation between the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, local law enforcement, and federal prosecutors.
Attorney General Pam Bondi praised everyone involved: “This successful collaboration between federal and local law enforcement saved American lives from a horrific terrorist attack on New Year’s Eve. The Department of Justice remains vigilant in our pursuit of evil ISIS sympathizers—anyone plotting to commit such depraved attacks will face the full force of the law.”
The suspect now faces charges of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if he’s convicted.
Cases like this remind us how tirelessly the FBI and its partners work behind the scenes—watching threats, building cases, and stepping in before anyone gets hurt—to keep communities safe.
