Two Iowa State Students Charged with Terrorism Threat

Authorities say the separate social media posts did not indicate plans for violence.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Two Iowa State University freshmen, Ty Jerman and Abdullateef Malallah, have been charged with making threats concerning the campus in Ames. The threats were posted on the social media app Yik Yak, with one warning people to stay away from Carver Hall and another about Parks Library. While authorities say there is no indication the students planned to enact violence, the posts are being treated as a serious crime under Iowa's threat of terrorism law.

Why it matters

Threats of terrorism, even if not carried out, can create fear and disruption in a campus community. Iowa State University and local law enforcement took the posts seriously and moved quickly to identify and apprehend the suspects to maintain a safe environment for students, faculty, and staff.

The details

On Monday evening, a post on Yik Yak threatened the Iowa State campus, telling people to stay away from Carver Hall on Tuesday afternoon. A second post also warned about Parks Library. The posts were removed by the app before 6 p.m. that night. After an investigation involving the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the FBI, 19-year-old Ty Jerman and 18-year-old Abdullateef Malallah, both Iowa State freshmen, were arrested and charged with threat of terrorism.

  • The initial Yik Yak post threatening Carver Hall was made around 4:30 p.m. on Monday, about 24 hours before the threatened time.
  • The second post warning about Parks Library was also made on Monday.
  • The arrests of Jerman and Malallah were announced late Wednesday morning.

The players

Ty Jerman

A 19-year-old Iowa State University freshman who was arrested and charged with threat of terrorism.

Abdullateef Malallah

An 18-year-old Iowa State University freshman who was arrested and charged with threat of terrorism.

Michael Newton

The Iowa State University Police Chief who announced the arrests.

Yik Yak

A social media app that allows people to create and view discussion threads within a 5-mile radius.

Iowa State University

The university where the threats were made.

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What they’re saying

“While there is no indication that either student planned to enact violence against the campus community, actions of this nature are treated as a serious crime.”

— Michael Newton, Iowa State University Police Chief (wearedubuque.com)

What’s next

The judge will decide on Thursday whether to allow Jerman and Malallah to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of taking all threats of terrorism seriously, even when there is no clear indication of a plan to carry out violence. Prompt action by law enforcement and the university helped maintain a sense of safety on campus.