A Cornell University student, Patrick Dai, aged 21 and in his third year of studies, has been taken into custody for making violent antisemitic threats against his Jewish classmates. The arrest took place on Tuesday based on a federal criminal complaint charging him with posting threats to kill or harm others through interstate communications. This crime can result in a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison. Dai is scheduled to appear in court in Syracuse on Wednesday.
The allegations against Dai include posting threatening messages on the Cornell discussion website, particularly threats of "shooting up" a predominantly Kosher dining hall on campus. These online posts were created on Sunday. The university police have noted that evidence suggests the locations were targeted due to the perpetrator's bias. As a response, patrols have been increased, and security measures for Jewish students and organizations have been heightened.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated that a person of interest was in custody for questioning and emphasized the commitment to combating hate and bias.
Joel M. Malina, the vice president for university relations at Cornell, confirmed that heightened security measures will be maintained on campus. He strongly condemned the antisemitic threats and supported their prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.
This incident at Cornell is occurring against the backdrop of a reported rise in antisemitic incidents across the United States since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7. FBI Director Christopher Wray, while speaking to a congressional committee, mentioned that antisemitic abuse has reached "historic levels" in the U.S., with Jewish Americans accounting for a significant portion of religious-based hate crimes.
In response to this troubling trend, President Joe Biden's administration announced that it is working to combat antisemitism and other hate speech on campuses by increasing communications with local, state, and federal authorities.
(With Agency Inputs)
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