MIAMI — Florida International University police arrested a 23-year-old student this week after she allegedly posted bomb threats in a high-volume group chat, targeting a university event scheduled for Friday, April 10, 2026.
Gabriela Saldana faces a felony charge of making written threats to kill or do bodily harm. Authorities took Saldana into custody near the FIU campus after investigators linked her to a series of messages within a WhatsApp group consisting of approximately 215 students.
Specific Threats at Ocean Bank Convocation Center
The investigation centered on messages regarding a “Capstone” student event at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. According to the arrest report, Saldana referenced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a post, asking him to “drop some bonbons”—slang for explosives—on students at the venue.
Police records state Saldana explicitly wrote that “there is going to be a bomb” at the center. Investigators confirmed that Saldana admitted to sending the messages, though she later characterized the posts as a “dumb joke.”
Judicial and University Response
During a bond hearing, Judge Mindy Glazer found probable cause for the threat charge, setting bond at $5,000. While prosecutors argued for a sentencing enhancement based on prejudice, Judge Glazer ruled there was insufficient evidence to support that element at this stage.
“The court sees enough to support probable cause,” Glazer noted, emphasizing the severity of the language regardless of the defendant’s intent.
FIU administration released a statement Friday morning, confirming the student’s arrest and describing the incident as a “credible and imminent threat of violence.” The university noted that because the suspect identified a specific date, time, and location, campus police moved immediately to neutralize the risk. Officials assured the public that no further threat to the community remains.
A Pattern of Digital Volatility
This arrest marks the second major digital crisis for FIU this year. The university recently faced intense scrutiny over a separate WhatsApp controversy involving racist and antisemitic rhetoric within student political organizations.
While the legal proceedings will likely focus on whether Saldana’s messages constitute protected speech or a criminal threat, the university’s rapid response signals a “zero-tolerance” approach to campus safety threats in an increasingly polarized environment.
Saldana remains under legal restriction as the State Attorney’s office reviews the case for formal filing.
