SYRACUSE, N.Y. – A Cornell University junior accused of posting violently threatening statements towards Jewish other folks on campus used to be held with out bail after his first look in federal court Wednesday.
Patrick Dai, from the Rochester, New York suburb of Pittsford, is charged with posting threats to kill or injure every other the usage of interstate communications. The graphic, nameless messages posted this weekend on a Greek existence discussion board rattled Jewish students at the Ithaca campus in upstate New York.
“While we take some measure of relief in knowing that the alleged author of the vile antisemitic posts that threatened our Jewish community is in custody, it was disturbing to learn that he was a Cornell student,” Cornell President Martha E. Pollack stated in a message Wednesday to the college group.
Pollack stated the Ivy League college won’t tolerate antisemitism, racism, Islamophobia or every other shape of hatred.
Investigators traced the threatening messages to Dai via an IP cope with, a numeric designation that identifies its location on the web. Dai admitted that he posted the threatening messages in an interview with regulation enforcement government on the Cornell Police Department, consistent with the federal grievance made overdue Tuesday.
Dai, 21, waived his proper to a bail listening to throughout his preliminary court look in Syracuse. He additionally used to be assigned a federal public defender, Gabrielle DiBella. A initial listening to used to be scheduled for Nov. 15, consistent with federal officers.
Dai’s mom attended the court look and didn’t remark later on, consistent with media studies.
The Associated Press left a telephone message searching for remark from DiBella.
The threatening feedback had been left on a site about fraternities and sororities that isn’t affiliated with Cornell and induced police to extend safety for Jewish students.
One post incorporated threats to stab and slit the throats of Jewish men and to carry a rifle to campus and shoot Jews. Another post used to be titled “gonna shoot up 104 west,” a university dining hall that caters to kosher diets and is located next to the Cornell Jewish Center, according to the complaint.
Dai has been suspended from Cornell, a spokesperson said.
Cornell additionally introduced that Friday shall be a “community day.” No categories shall be held, and college and nonessential body of workers shall be excused from paintings.