Suspect arrested in Facebook threat to Colombia president’s son

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Arrest in Facebook threat to Colombia leader’s son

BOGOTA, Colombia — A student accused of posting a threat against the son of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on the Facebook network was arrested on Wednesday.

National Police Director Oscar Naranjo identified the man as Nicolas Castro, a 23-year-old student of fine arts. Police said he was arrested on the outskirts of Colombia’s capital, Bogota.

Castro is accused of posting a message reading, “I promise to kill Jeronimo Alberto Uribe, son of Alvaro Uribe,” on the social networking site in July.

Chief anti-terrorism prosecutor Hermes Ardila said by telephone that Castro also made threatening messages against the president.

“We found the digital footprint of the person who wrote those threatening messages on Facebook,” he said. He said that they were produced on Castro’s computer.

As police brought him to a court center, Castro told reporters that what was written on Facebook “was an opinion and was an error.” But he insisted, “I am innocent of everything they accuse me of.”

Police said he will be charged with instigating criminal activity.