John Edgar Rust, 26, of Alexandria, posted a 4chan chat thread on November 11 last year which concluded by saying, 'After all, it's not murder if they're black'

A Virginia man has been charged with making racist threats to kill African Americans at Howard University using the wifi in a Panera Bread store.

John Edgar Rust, 26, of Alexandria, posted a 4chan chat thread on November 11 last year which concluded by saying, 'After all, it's not murder if they're black'.

Concerns over safety led to some students missing lectures at the historically black university and ramped up security on campus.

Rust was convicted of sexual battery against a minor in 2012, according to the Virginia Sex Offender Registry, and subsequently banned from the Internet.

But he managed to get online by using Panera Bread's in-store wifi.

The affidavit shows investigators quickly honed in on Rust, but the investigation required detailed computer forensics to bring charges.

Rust is scheduled to make an initial appearance Thursday. Court records do not list an attorney. He could face five years in prison if he is found guilty

Research on firearms and explosives were allegedly found on Rust’s laptop, according to the Washington Post.

He also search for articles reacting to his own threats on his phone, according to the FBI.

