Los Angeles Schools Close Over Unspecified Threat

Public schools across the Los Angeles, California area have been closed due to a "credible threat."

“It was not to one school, two schools or three schools, it was many schools, not specifically identified, but there were many schools,” Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Ramon Cortines said. “That’s the reason that I took the action that I did.”

Officials said the threat was delivered electronically.  “Some of the details talked about backpacks and other packages," Cortines said, adding that the FBI has been notified.

 In New York, officials said they received a similar threat and determined it to be a "hoax." 

"We will be vigilant. But we are absolutely convinced our schools are safe," New Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

The Los Angeles school closures come less than two weeks after a couple killed 14 people at a holiday office party in San Bernardino, California.

Authorities say all students who went to school Tuesday morning were being sent home.

"We need to cooperation of the whole of Los Angeles today," said school board President Steve Zimmer. "We need families and neighbors to work together with our schools and with our employees to make sure our schools are safe throughout today."

The Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation's second largest, has more than 640,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade at more than 900 schools.
 voanews.com
15/12/15
--
-
Related:

• États-Unis : toutes les écoles publiques de Los Angeles fermées après des menaces...