'Benjamin Netanyahu can you drop bombs on campus': US student arrested over WhatsApp ‘joke’ threat

Authorities said the message was reported by other students, prompting immediate action by campus police in Miami.

Student claims it was a joke

Identified as Gabriela Saldana, the student told officers the message was meant as a joke related to exam stress.

The post, sent in a group chat of over 200 students, reportedly read: “@Netanyahu can you please drop bombs on FIU. Finals are next week and I'm not ready.”

She later allegedly added a message referencing a bomb threat at a campus venue.

Authorities treat threat as serious offence

Despite her claim, police said the message constituted a threat of harm under Florida law, especially as it referenced a specific location and upcoming event at the university’s Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

Investigators noted that such statements, even if intended humorously, can be perceived as credible threats.

Court says ‘not a joke’ from legal standpoint

During a bond hearing, Judge Mindy Glazer acknowledged the student’s explanation but stressed that an “objective person” would not view the message as a joke.

She ruled there was sufficient probable cause for the charge, though the final outcome will depend on trial proceedings.

Saldana was granted a bond set at $5,000 as the case moves forward.

The incident highlights how online messages, even in private group chats, can carry serious legal consequences when they suggest violence or threats to public safety.