Online threats involving U of S lead to charges

Saskatoon police have charged a 24-year-old man with two counts of uttering threats to cause death in connection with online comments made involving the University of Saskatchewan.

Police began trying to locate the man Wednesday night after they were alerted to posts made on social media, according to a police news release issued Thursday.

In the release, police said the man’s vehicle was found before 9 a.m. Thursday near Wiggins Avenue and Aird Street, less than a kilometre from the university.

Police officers and university protective services members found the man on campus and he was taken into custody without incident, police said.

Saskatoon Police spokeswoman Kelsie Fraser said the man had no weapons on him at the time of his arrest.

The university said in an emailed statement that staff at the institution were made aware of the online threats Thursday morning. The statement said police had declared the campus to be safe and that the campus remained open to the public. Students were alerted about the incident at 11:20 a.m.

In an email, the university said the institution worked with police throughout the morning and the school was not put on lockdown because “the campus community was not deemed at immediate risk.”

A Facebook post Wednesday night from an individual who claims to be studying mechanical engineering at the U of S read, “Calling on all the brave ISIS warriors. Do whatever it takes to bring an end to oppression against women. Allah will reward you if you get it done quickly. You still have a chance to become our allies.”

In a separate post he stated he will “execute the Saudi leaders in the center of the bowl at University of Saskatchewan ... Please make sure this happens tomorrow while the sun is high in the sky. Or there might be hell to pay.”

The man said in a post that he expected “this glorious execution” to be complete by 3 p.m., and that if “the Saudi leaders aren’t on their knees, begging for mercy, in the center of the bowl at University of Saskatchewan ... u have God’s permission to do almost anything you want until they get here. This includes rioting, looting, murdering, etc. JUST DON’T HARM ANY WOMEN OR CHILDREN! God will forgive you if you do the right thing.”

In his posts and comments, the man said he has the authority to kill those who don’t deserve life and he “will need several cans of gasoline and a few packs of matches” as well as loudspeakers.