Cornell University student accused of threatening Jews: Who is Patrick Dai?

Cornell University student Patrick Dai was arrested for allegedly threatening to kill Jews amid rising antisemitic incidents in the US.

Patrick Dai, a 21-year-old student at Cornell University in New York, has been arrested for allegedly making threats to kill Jews amidst a rise in antisemitic incidents in the United States during the Israel-Hamas war. The US Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York announced on Tuesday evening that Dai was charged with posting threats to kill or injure others using interstate communications. The arrest came after a series of antisemitic posts on Greekrank, a discussion site for fraternities and sororities, where Dai threatened to kill Jews at Cornell University. Images of the posts gained attention on social media, leading to his arrest. Dai, originally from Pittsford, New York, is a junior studying computer science at Cornell's engineering school. His parents claim that he suffers from depression and maintain his innocence. Dai is expected to appear in federal court in Syracuse, New York, and could face up to five years in prison if convicted. This incident is part of a larger trend of incendiary incidents on college campuses related to Jews and the conflict in Gaza. FBI Director Christopher Wray testified at a Senate hearing that antisemitism in the United States is at "historic levels," while Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas noted a rise in hatred towards Arab-Americans and Muslims in addition to Jews.