University of Chile student arrested for bomb threat

A 19-year-old student was arrested by the Investigative Police of Chile (PDI) following a bomb threat directed at the University of Chile’s Department of Computer Science. The threat was posted on Instagram, stating, ‘On Monday I am going to put a bomb in the DCC, first and only warning.’

The arrest was facilitated by Meta Platforms, which utilized early detection protocols to alert authorities about the post within one minute of its publication. This allowed investigators to identify the account and link it to the suspect via an associated email address. During a raid at her residence in Estación Central, the Cybercrime Brigade seized electronic devices, including a laptop and an iPhone, for forensic analysis.

The suspect, who has no prior criminal record, faces judicial measures including biweekly reporting, national travel restrictions, and a total prohibition from entering the threatened academic unit. This incident follows a recent arrest of another individual for similar threats against Santiago universities, highlighting ongoing security concerns within the capital’s educational institutions.