'Not A Joke': US Court Fines Florida Student For Asking Netanyahu To 'Bomb' Her College

Last Updated:April 20, 2026, 22:46 IST

FIU student Gabriela Saldana, 23, was arrested for WhatsApp bomb threats about an event, a judge found probable cause, she faces threat charges and a $5000 bond.

A student at Florida International University (FIU) has been put behind bars after she allegedly asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “drop bombs" on her college.

According to a report by 7News, the 23-year-old student, Gabriela Saldana, made the threat in a WhatsApp group chat of about 215 students. The students were discussing an event scheduled for Friday at the university’s Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

She appeared in bond court on Thursday afternoon after being arrested on Wednesday.

7News cited screenshots of the written threat in one of which was written “[Israel’s Benjamin] Netanyahu, if you can hear me, drop some bonbons for us Capstone students in Ocean Bank Convocation Center."

In bond court, an FIU Police officer said she also wrote: “There is going to be a bomb in the Ocean Bank Convocation Center and it was going to be Jonathan’s fault."

In a later chat, Saldana wrote: “I wrote a dumb joke that should not have been made."

During the hearing, Judge Mindy S. Glazer said those types of messages aren’t funny.

“I can understand your position when you are saying this is a joke, but to an objective person, it’s not a joke, and it would be enough for probable cause. I’m not saying it’s enough for beyond a reasonable doubt. I don’t know if the state is going to be able to prove it in trial, but for purposes of this hearing, I believe there is enough for probable cause," he said.

Saldana faces charges of threats to kill or do bodily harm with prejudice. Her bond has been set at $5,000.

In a statement, the university issued a statement, saying “An 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."

News world 'Not A Joke': US Court Fines Florida Student For Asking Netanyahu To 'Bomb' Her College

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