ISU

Two Freshmen, Two Anonymous Yik Yak Posts, Two Terrorism Charges: ISU's Anonymous-App Reckoning

Tuesday, February 22, 2022IAbomb threatemergency notificationmedium confidence

Confirmed HoaxDetermined to be a hoax. The institutional response is documented because it reveals how the alert system performed under a perceived real threat.

On the evening of February 22, 2022, Iowa State University Police received reports of two anonymous Yik Yak posts made separately by two freshmen: one warning people to avoid Carver Hall at 4:30 p.m. the next day, and another telling students to avoid Parks Library. Working overnight with the FBI and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, ISU Police identified 18-year-old Abdullateef Malallah and 19-year-old Ty Jerman -- both charged with threat of terrorism under Iowa Code -- within hours, undermining Yik Yak's reputation for anonymity.

Alerts: 2
Response: —
Killed: —
Injured: —

Institution

Iowa State University

Public R1 · IA

~31,000 studentsISU Alert

Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTEmailEvening of February 22, 2022 (Central Time)

Approximate reconstruction416 chars

ISU Alert: ISU Police are investigating anonymous social media posts referencing potential threats to campus buildings including Carver Hall and Parks Library. ISU Police, the FBI, and the Iowa DCI are working to identify those responsible. As a precaution, additional safety measures are being implemented in the affected buildings. Campus remains open. Report any suspicious activity to ISU Police at 515-294-4428.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Investigators determined it was not necessary to close campus or evacuate the named buildings, distinguishing this from bomb threats requiring physical sweeps

The two posts were made independently by two unconnected freshmen, an unusual coincidence that compounded the threat's credibility in the initial hours

Carver Hall is a large multi-department academic building at ISU; Parks Library is the main research library -- both high-traffic locations

FOLLOW-UPEmailFebruary 23, 2022 (Central Time)

Approximate reconstruction366 chars

ISU Alert: Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the anonymous social media threats made last evening. ISU Police worked with the FBI and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation overnight to identify those responsible. Campus is safe and operating normally. Additional safety personnel will be visible in the affected buildings today as a precaution.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Abdullateef Malallah, 18, and Ty Jerman, 19, both Ames freshmen, were arrested and initially charged with threat of terrorism under Iowa Code

The charges were later reduced to Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon - No Intent, and Harassment in the 1st Degree, for each student

Police confirmed the two suspects were not known to each other -- the posts were made independently on the same evening

Context

Background

On the evening of February 22, 2022, ISU Police received reports of two separate anonymous Yik Yak posts made by unconnected freshmen. One post -- attributed to 18-year-old Abdullateef Malallah -- warned people not to go to Carver Hall the next day at 4:30 p.m. A few hours later, a second post by 19-year-old Ty Jerman told students to avoid Parks Library. ISU Police worked overnight with the FBI and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation to trace the posts and arrested both students by February 23. Both were initially charged with threat of terrorism -- defined by Iowa Code as an act intended to intimidate or coerce -- because the posts referenced specific locations and times. Charges were later reduced to Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon - No Intent and First-Degree Harassment. The case became a frequently cited illustration of how Yik Yak's return in 2021 -- the app relaunched after a 2017 shutdown -- reignited campus threat concerns. Despite its anonymous interface, the platform retains user data accessible to law enforcement via subpoena.

Outcome

Campus remained open. Both suspects identified and arrested within hours through ISU-FBI-IDCI collaboration. Terrorism charges were later reduced to Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon and First-Degree Harassment for each student.

Provenance

Sources

News
Iowa State police arrest freshman, accused of Yik Yak threats (The Gazette)
thegazette.com
News
Two Iowa State freshmen charged with threat of terrorism after anonymous Yik Yak posts (KWWL)
kwwl.com
News
Iowa State students charged with threats of terrorism (KCRG)
kcrg.com
News
Students who sent threatening messages to Iowa State campus given new charges (KCRG)
kcrg.com
News
2 ISU students arrested in connection to social media threats (We Are Iowa)
weareiowa.com

Alert Sequence

Background

Sources

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