Floor SpeechNeutral2026-01-09

PLANNED TERRORIST ATTACK IN MINT HILL

Crime & Justice

Context

On 2026-01-09, Representative Mark Harris (R-NC-8) delivered a floor speech titled "PLANNED TERRORIST ATTACK IN MINT HILL" in the House. The speech addressed crime and justice.

Full Text

PLANNED TERRORIST ATTACK IN MINT HILL

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 7 (Friday, January 9, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 7 (Friday, January 9, 2026)] [House] [Page H605] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] {time} 1050 PLANNED TERRORIST ATTACK IN MINT HILL (Mr. HARRIS of North Carolina asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. HARRIS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, North Carolina teen Christian Sturdivant pledged his allegiance to ISIS at just 14 years old. Christian, now an 18-year-old, planned to use knives and hammers to attack people at a grocery store and restaurant on New Year's Eve in Mint Hill, North Carolina, a suburban town in my district. I thank the Lord that his plan was intercepted and thwarted by the FBI and United States Attorney Russ Ferguson, with the help of Mint Hill law enforcement and the mayor of Mint Hill, Dale Dalton. As a result of their work, they were able to stop Christian before he could act. This foiled attack should concern us all. An impressionable American teenager was influenced by violent Islamist ideology. Let me be clear: Radical Islam is not just a danger in places like Mamdani's New York. It is in my home State, and it is quickly spreading across the United States. Mr. Speaker, imagine almost losing your life on New Year's Eve just for celebrating in America. That is what almost happened in my district. This is the type of hate that radical Islam inspires. It has no place in America. We must do more to push back and stand up to hateful ideologies that espouse violence against innocent people. ____________________

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PLANNED TERRORIST ATTACK IN MINT HILL Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 7 (Friday, January 9, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 7 (Friday, January 9, 2026)] [House] [Page H605] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] {time} 1050 PLANNED TERRORIST ATTACK IN MINT HILL (Mr. HARRIS of North Carolina asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. HARRIS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, North Carolina teen Christian Sturdivant pledged his allegiance to ISIS at just 14 years old. Christian, now an 18-year-old, planned to use knives and hammers to attack people at a grocery store and restaurant on New Year's Eve in Mint Hill, North Carolina, a suburban town in my district. I thank the Lord that his plan was intercepted and thwarted by the FBI and United States Attorney Russ Ferguson, with the help of Mint Hill law enforcement and the mayor of Mint Hill, Dale Dalton. As a result of their work, they were able to stop Christian before he could act. This foiled attack should concern us all. An impressionable American teenager was influenced by violent Islamist ideology. Let me be clear: Radical Islam is not just a danger in places like Mamdani's New York. It is in my home State, and it is quickly spreading across the United States. Mr. Speaker, imagine almost losing your life on New Year's Eve just for celebrating in America. That is what almost happened in my district. This is the type of hate that radical Islam inspires. It has no place in America. We must do more to push back and stand up to hateful ideologies that espouse violence against innocent people. ____________________