{"id":240054,"date":"2026-04-21T07:44:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T07:44:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/240054\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T07:44:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T07:44:08","slug":"fiu-student-arrested-after-asking-israeli-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-to-bomb-fiu-in-a-whatsapp-group-chat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/240054\/","title":{"rendered":"FIU student arrested after asking Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bomb FIU in a WhatsApp group chat"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gabriela Saldana, a 23-year-old FIU senior, was arrested by FIU police at approximately 2:10 a.m. Thursday, April 16, on a felony charge of making threats to kill or cause bodily harm.<\/p>\n

Gabriella Mateo | Staff Writer<\/p>\n

Saldana, who is an undergraduate research assistant at FIU, was reported by another student in a 215-person group chat after she wrote: \u201cNetanyahu, if you can hear me, drop some bonbons for us Capstone students in Ocean Bank Convocation Center.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The message appeared to reference a social media trend in which users jokingly call on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to \u201cbomb\u201d or \u201cstrike\u201d locations, often in traffic-related videos.<\/p>\n

The FIU senior also sent another text that states: \u201cThere is going to be a bomb in the Ocean Bank Convocation Center, and it was going to be Jonathan\u2019s fault,\u201d naming a supposed classmate.<\/p>\n

According to police, Saldana admitted to sending these messages, but stated she meant no true harm and said she was just joking.<\/p>\n

In a released statement, FIU said: \u201cAn FIU student has been arrested for making a credible and imminent threat of violence at a planned university event. According to the investigation, the suspect identified a specific date, time, and venue. Given the ongoing investigation and federal student privacy laws, FIU has no further comment. There is no further threat to the university community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saldana\u2019s bond was set at $5,000. The judge presiding over the case did not find probable cause for charges of prejudice.<\/p>\n

About Post Author<\/p>\n

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