Person of interest in custody in ‘horrendous’ Cornell University anti-Jewish death threats

A person of interest has been identified in the “horrendous” anti-Jewish death threats at Cornell University that put the Ivy League campus on high alert over the weekend, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday.

The unnamed suspect is now being grilled by New York State Police troopers over the online threats to “bring an assault rifle to campus,” Hochul wrote in a post on X.

“Law enforcement has identified a person of interest in relation to threats of a mass shooting and antisemitic violence at Cornell University,” Hochul said in the post. “This individual is currently in New York State Police custody for questioning.”

The disturbing messages, which came days after “F–k Israel” graffiti was scrawled on sidewalks at the upstate Ithaca campus, were revealed by university officials Sunday.

“The genocidal fascist zionist regime will be destroyed,” said one of the messages posted to a public school forum. “Rape and kill all the jew women before they birth more jewish hitlers.”

Joel Malina, Cornell’s vice president for university relations said in a statement Tuesday, “We can confirm that a subject has been identified as a suspect in the antisemitic threats made against our Jewish students on Sunday and is currently in custody.

“We thank the FBI and other law enforcement agencies for their coordination,” Malina said. “We will update the public as we have further details to release.”

Hochul added on X, “When I met with Cornell students yesterday I promised them we would do everything possible to find the perpetrator.

“Public safety is my top priority and I’m committed to combatting hate and bias wherever it rears its ugly head.”

A rep for the New York State Police referred questions to campus cops.