Photo courtesy of Mason Police
Nassim Darwich was arrested and extradited to the United States on felony charges
BY ABIGAIL ADCOX, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
An individual who allegedly threatened Mason in a video posted on social media has been apprehended. The suspect, Nassim Darwich, was arrested on five felony charges, issued from Virginia, related to the bomb threats while attempting to enter Israel.
Mason students were first alerted of this individual in an email on March 20.
The email, entitled “Suspicious Incident,” read, “It has come to Mason Police’s attention that an individual tagged Mason Police in a video post on social media threatening harm to the university.”
It continued, “The individual’s threats toward the university are not credible at this time. The individual is currently located outside of the United States.”
In the initial email, the suspect was not named, but it did explain that the suspect was known by law enforcement for making “false and irrational statements.”
The follow-up email arrived in all currently enrolled students’ mailboxes Friday, April 5. The email, titled “Update on Suspicious Incident Reported on March 20th, 2019,” alerted students that Nassim Darwich had been arrested and extradited back to the U.S. through JFK International Airport in New York City.
“Yesterday, Mason Police were in New York to take custody of Mr. Darwich and return him to Virginia,” the second email read. “He is currently in the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center where he is being held on $100,000.00 secured bond.”
In response to a question on Mason Police’s Facebook page if the suspect had a prior association to the university, Mason Police responded, “Mr. Darwich has a prior association with GMU, but he is no longer a student or employee of the university.”
Additionally, Mason Police thanked Interpol, the U.S. Customs Service, Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI for assisting in apprehending and arresting the suspect. The email stated, “Mason Police worked with Interpol and several federal enforcement agencies to track the suspect through several countries in the Middle East” before he was apprehended.
If anyone has any additional information on this case, they are encouraged to call the Mason Police Department at (703) 993-2810.
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story.
