21-year-old engineering student arrested for anti-Jewish death threats at Cornell University
A 21-year-old engineering student at Cornell University has been arrested on charges of posting anti-Jewish death threats online.
Patrick Dai, a native of Pittsford, New York, has been charged with posting threats to kill or injure another using interstate communications, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Dai’s arrest comes after Cornell University was on high alert over the weekend after the anti-Jewish death threats were discovered.
The threats were posted online on a discussion board and were described by university officials as “horrendous.”
Dai is currently in custody and is expected to appear in federal court on Wednesday.
Cornell University President Martha E. Pollack issued a statement condemning the anti-Jewish death threats and pledging the university’s support for its Jewish community.
“I am deeply disturbed by the anti-Jewish death threats that were posted online,” Pollack said in the statement. “These threats are abhorrent and have no place at Cornell University. We stand with our Jewish community and will continue to work to create a safe and welcoming environment for all students, faculty, and staff.”
The arrest of Patrick Dai is a reminder of the importance of vigilance and speaking out against hate and discrimination of all kinds.
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