Update 12:14 pm:
New York City officials say they received the same threat that led to the closure of the Los Angeles school system but quickly concluded that it was a hoax, AP reported.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday morning that he was “absolutely convinced” there was no danger to schoolchildren in New York.
New York Police Commissioner William Bratton said he thought Los Angeles officials overreacted by deciding to close the nation’s second-largest school system.
“We are very comfortable that this is not a credible threat,” Bratton said. “These threats are made to promote fear.”
——-
KTLA
All Los Angeles Unified School District schools were closed Tuesday after LAUSD received a “credible terror threat,” according to school district officials and police.
Officer Kim of the Los Angeles Police Department told KTLA that the threat prompted the decision from LAUSD Superintendent Ramon Cortines to close all schools until further notice.
The “messaged” threat was received electronically and mentioned backpacks and other packages, Cortines said at a morning news conference.
“It was to students at schools,” he added, characterizing the threat as “rare.”
The nature of the threat was “unspecified,” but was made to “many schools,” according to the superintendent. He did not identify any by name.
Cortines stated he made the decision to close all campuses after consulting with Los Angeles School Police Department Chief Steven Zipperman and School Board President Steve Zimmer.
He ordered all schools be thoroughly searched to ensure the grounds were “safe for children.”
“I’ve asked the plant managers to walk the school, and if they see anything that is out of order to contact the police,” the superintendent said.
He felt it was important to take the precaution “based on what has happened recently, and what has happened in the past,” Cortines said, alluding to the recent mass shooting in San Bernardino, which was being investigated by the FBI as an “act of terrorism.”
The Dec. 2 attack at the Inland Regional Center left 14 people dead and 21 others injured.
The threat to LAUSD schools was still being analyzed, according to Zipperman.
“ We have chosen to close our schools today until we can be sure our campuses are safe,” he said during the news conference.
Parents and guardians have been urged to keep their kids home from school on Tuesday. Anyone who has already dropped their child off was asked to pick them up.
Proper ID would be required and checked upon picking students up.
LAUSD is the second largest school district in the country, serving more than 640,000 students between kindergarten and 12th grade, according to its website. There are more than 900 schools and 187 public charter schools in the district.
Parents with questions were urged to call 213-241-2064, according to LAPD.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
