A Cornell student was arrested Tuesday after allegedly posting threatening messages online that called for the deaths of Jewish people.
Patrick Dai, 21, was arrested on charges relating to posting threats to kill or injure another using interstate communications, according to an announcement from the Department of Justice. According to the announcement, Dai called for the deaths of Jewish people online, saying he was “gonna shoot up 104 west,” referring to a Kosher dining hall next to the Cornell Jewish Center.
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In other posts, he threatened to rape and throw off a cliff any Jewish females, “stab” and “slit the throat” of any Jewish males on campus, and behead Jewish babies. In another post, he threatened to “bring an assault rifle to campus and shoot all you pig jews.”
The charges against Dai carry a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Authorities have been on high alert for several days, following the discovery of graphic threats towards Jewish students at Cornell University— of which roughly 22% of the student body is Jewish.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) and is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, in conjunction with the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice.
Gov. Kathy Hochul visited Cornell on Monday to stand in solidarity with Jewish students, and pledge further protection for them.
“No one should be afraid to walk from their dorm, or their dining hall, to a classroom,” she told students. “The conversation I had was powerful — students who are anxious, who are fearful, but they have a sense of community as well. And a sense that they will get through this. They are a strong group of young people who deserve to have the support of an entire campus and, indeed, the entire state to help them get through these difficult times.”
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The FBI also announced an investigation into the matter and pledged an increase in security on campus.
“The FBI is aware of the threats made to Cornell University’s Jewish community. We take all threats seriously and are working closely with Cornell and our law enforcement partners at every level to determine the credibility, share information, and take appropriate investigative action,” an FBI spokesperson told CBS News on Monday. “We encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement. Nothing is more important than the safety of our communities, and we will not tolerate violence motivated by hate and extremism.”
