New York Gov. Kathy Hochul delivering remarks on major legislation requiring colleges and universities in the state to strengthen hate crime policies. Photo: Darren McGee/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul

New York State Police have taken a “person of interest” into custody for questioning as part of the investigation into pro-Hamas social media posts calling for the rape and murder of members of the Jewish community at Cornell University.

“Earlier today, law enforcement identified a person of interest as part of the investigation, and this individual is currently in the custody of the New York State Police for questioning,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said in a statement on Tuesday. “Public safety is my top priority, and I’m committed to combating hate and bias wherever it rears its ugly head.”

The graphic posts, which prompted the police investigation, were posted on a popular Cornell social media forum over the weekend.

“The genocidal fascist zionist [sic] regime will be destroyed,” said one of the posts. Another added, “Of I see a pig male jew i will stab you and slit your throat. if i see another pig female jew i will drag you away and rape you and throw you off a cliff. if i see another pig baby jew i will behead you in front of your parents [sic].”

In addition to threatening the lives of Cornell’s 3,500 Jewish students, who are 22 percent of the school’s student population, the posts called for an attack on a campus kosher dining hall — named 104West — affiliated with the Steven K. And Winifred A. Grinspoon Hillel Center.

“Gonna shoot up 104 west,” the post said. “Allahu akbar! from the river to the sea, palestine will be free! glory to hamas! liberation by any means necessary [sic]!”

As a result of the incident, Hillel officials told Jewish students to avoid the building “out of an abundance of caution.”

The posts caused widespread panic as the Cornell community braced for the possibility of anti-Jewish violence.

The identity of the individual taken into custody has not yet been revealed.

The incident came amid a massive surge in antisemitic incidents across the US and Europe following the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas’ invasion of Israel on Oct. 7. Hamas killed over 1,400 people, mostly civilians, injured thousands more, and kidnapped over 200 hostages in the deadliest single-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. College campuses across the US have been particularly active hot-spots for anti-Israel rallies, which in many cases have descended into antisemitic rhetoric and threats.

Since Oct. 7, Cornell has also seen extreme rhetoric uttered by its faculty. Earlier this month, history professor Russell Rickford called Hamas’ terror onslaught “exhilarating” and “energizing” at a pro-Palestinian rally. He has since taken a leave of absence for the remainder of the semester.

Follow Dion J. Pierre @DionJPierre.