U.S. Attorney Announces that FBI Disrupted ISIS-Inspired New Year’s Eve Attack Plot in N.C.

TRANSCRIPT:

FERGUSON: "I’m here to announce, in partnership with the Mint Hill Police Department and the FBI, that we have foiled a terrorist attack that was planned to take place on New Year’s Eve in Mint Hill, North Carolina. Now, New Year’s Eve, we all know, is a wonderful time where we all celebrate the past year, we look forward to and plan the next year, and everyone deserves to do that, to celebrate the new year without being concerned about their personal safety. And thanks to the law enforcement that stands with me today and others, we are fortunate that people can do that. The FBI and Mint Hill Police Department, the New York Police Department, worked around the clock on this matter, not just building a case for us, but surveilling the subject to make sure the public was safe. At every moment, including Christmas day, they worked around the clock on this and I very much appreciate it. The defendant here lived in Mint Hill, the planned attack was to take place in Mint Hill, and I want to take Chief Joe Hatley of the Mint Hill Police Department for being with me here today and for your work over the holidays, Chief, I really appreciate it, I'm sure you know Jim Barnacle by now, he’s the special agent in charge of the FBI for North Carolina. The FBI worked tirelessly on this case, so I can’t thank you enough for that. FBI agents spent their Christmas day surveilling a subject so that families in Charlotte and Mint Hill and western North Carolina could spend their day celebrating with their families, and I’m very thankful for that. That is true public service. If you see a police officer or an FBI agent, please thank them for spending their holidays on this, so that we all could spend holidays with our families."