San Jose, CA. — Federal authorities have arrested a San Jose State University graduate student accused of posting a series of hateful messages and bomb threats that disrupted classes and left campus buildings largely deserted on threatened attack dates.
Ziheng “Tony” Fang, 30, of San Jose, was arrested on a federal charge of conveying false information and hoaxes. He made his initial appearance July 10 in federal court in San Jose and remained in federal custody, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California.
Fang is pursuing a master’s degree in data science at SJSU.
According to a criminal complaint filed July 9, Fang wrote a threatening message that was placed inside a plastic cover sheet and taped to the wall of a men’s restroom on campus.
The message, discovered Nov. 5, 2025, began with “WARNING! MASS BOMB NEXT WEEK” and included multiple swastikas. Investigators said Fang’s fingerprint was found on the paper.
A second message discovered in the same restroom threatened to kill Jews, Muslims, Chinese people and Mexicans using racial slurs. It also predicted mass bombings on Nov. 11 and Nov. 12, according to court documents.
Per reporting from The Times of Israel
The FBI agent investigating the case noted that Fang’s social media aligned with progressive messaging.
His profile on TikTok said he was “100% woke,” his Snapchat profile said he was an “activist,” and his Facebook profile said he was a “social justice activist.” On Threads, his profile showed a rainbow flag.
Fang had posted statements on social media opposing immigration enforcement and the MAGA movement, and in support of immigrants and pro-Palestinian views, the complaint said.
The SJSU Police Department has recorded more than 20 hateful or threatening messages in men’s and gender-neutral restrooms around campus since October 2024. Some identified dates for alleged attacks or referenced bombs, knives and shootings. The latest message cited in the complaint was found May 14, 2026.
Investigators analyzed university key-card records and found Fang had accessed buildings shortly before threatening messages were discovered in 16 of the 18 incidents involving secured buildings, the complaint alleges.
The only other person with a comparable number of entries was a facilities employee whose work required access to the buildings. Surveillance video also allegedly showed Fang entering or leaving some of the affected restrooms or surrounding areas within a day before messages were found.
The threats prompted the university president’s office to issue email and text alerts before several alleged attack dates. Some professors canceled classes or moved them online, while concerned students and employees contacted campus police about whether it was safe to return.
Campus buildings were described as a “ghost town” on some of the dates mentioned in the threats, according to the complaint.
Fang was scheduled to return to court July 13 for the identification of counsel before Chief Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the San Jose State University Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and Justice Department Civil Rights Division are prosecuting it.
The charge is an allegation. Fang is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
About the Author
Discover more from Right Now Oregon
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
