Student Arrested for Threatening Jewish Students at Cornell University

A Cornell University student has been arrested for posting threatening statements online about Jewish students at the school, according to law enforcement officials. 21-year-old Patrick Dai, a junior from Pittsford, New York, has been charged with posting threats to kill or injure another using interstate communications. The charges were filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office, FBI, New York State Police, and Cornell University Police.

It is currently unclear whether Dai has hired an attorney. The federal courts website has not yet been updated with the case. Dai has not responded to a Facebook message and his Cornell email address is currently inaccessible.

If convicted, Dai could face a maximum of five years in prison.

The threatening messages were posted over the weekend on a forum centered around fraternities and sororities, causing alarm among students at the Ivy League school in upstate New York. These anonymous threats have emerged amidst an increase in antisemitic and anti-Muslim rhetoric on social media during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Dai's court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday in federal court in Syracuse, New York, before a United States Magistrate Judge.

The vice president for university relations at Cornell University, Joel M. Malina, expressed gratitude for the swift actions taken by the FBI.

Condemnation of Antisemitic Threats at Cornell University

In a recent statement, Cornell University expressed shock and strong condemnation towards the horrifying and antisemitic threats that have been made. The university firmly believes that these threats should be subject to full legal prosecution. Additionally, they emphasize the importance of the campus community uniting and supporting one another during this challenging time.

The comments in question were posted on a Greek life website which is not affiliated with Cornell University. Situated in Ithaca, New York, about 227 miles northwest of New York City, the campus has been greatly affected by these disturbing incidents.

The person responsible for these threatening messages has been identified as Dai. His messages include explicit calls for the deaths of Jewish individuals and a particularly alarming post threatening to "shoot up 104 west." This dining hall, located adjacent to the Cornell Jewish Center, predominantly serves kosher diets.

According to official complaints, Dai's messages went to extreme lengths by menacingly stating intentions to "stab" and "slit the throat" of Jewish males on campus. Disturbingly, he also mentioned plans to rape and throw off a cliff any Jewish females, as well as behead Jewish babies. In a separate post, he even threatened to bring an assault rifle and shoot all Jewish individuals on campus.

Reacting swiftly to these threats, the Cornell University Police Department has implemented heightened patrols and additional security measures for Jewish students and organizations. To further ensure safety, a state police cruiser has been stationed in front of the Center for Jewish Living.

The severity of the situation has prompted a visit from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to the campus. She conveyed her commitment to public safety and her determination to combat hate and bias in all its forms through a statement prior to the arrests made on Tuesday.