A person suspected of posting threats on social media aimed at University of Missouri protestors was arrested by university police on Wednesday morning, officials announced.
The MUPD said in a statement the suspect had posted threats “on Yik Yak and other socal media.” The suspect, who has not yet been identified, is in MUPD custody and was not on or near the University campus at the time of the threat.
The University has added security in the face of increasing online threats, after weeks of protests over racial tensions on campus culminated in the departure of two senior university officials this week.
A post Tuesday night on the college’s website said campus police are “aware of social media threats” and are investigating. The university’s statement didn’t offer further detail, but it came after at least two users posted threats on the anonymous location-based messaging app Yik Yak.
One user threatened to
“shoot every black person I see”
Another said: “Some of you are alright. Don’t go to campus tomorrow.” The message seemed to echo one that appeared on the website 4chan — a forum where racist and misogynistic comments are common — ahead of the deadly campus shooting at an Oregon community college last month.
The posts were widely disseminated across the Internet and local media.
“It’s really disheartening and proves the point of why these protests and boycotts were necessary”
– Gaby Rodriguez
