MUPD arrests man for making terror threat on social media site

A University of Missouri student was arrested Monday evening for allegedly making a terrorist threat.

The University of Missouri Police department arrested Nathan Benz of St. Louis just before 8 p.m. after he made a threat on the social media site Yik Yak Monday. Benz is a freshman at MU.

Major Brian Weimer said they received multiple calls of the threat around noon on Monday. He said they are not releasing the details of what the threatening post said at this time.

However, he did add that the threat wasn’t racially motivated or had anything to do with the recent protests on MU’s campus.

“We take these very seriously and we will do everything in our power to identify individuals who are making these types of threats,” he said. “If they’re in violation of the law we will be making the arrest.”

Major Weimer said Benz could also face disciplinary action at the university.

Christian Basi, a university spokesperson, declined to comment on the incident.

Interim Chancellor Hank Foley responded to the arrest of Benz Tuesday morning. He said, “We will not tolerate any threat to our campus; I’m once again extremely grateful for the fast work of the MUPD. This is the second time in two months that they have identified an individual who has threatened the peace of our campus,” in a statement.

You can read the full statement here.

On November 11, Hunter Park, a now former University of Missouri Science and Technology student was arrested for making a racially motivated threat on Yik Yak.

He was later charged for making a terrorist threat and released from the Boone County Jail on a $10,000 bond. The judge ordered him to be placed on house arrest and have no access to the internet.

Prosecutors tell ABC 17 News charges on Benz are under review.

Benz has since bonded out of the Boone County Jail.

Stay with ABC 17 News on this developing story.