LA schools closed after bomb threat

LOS ANGELES: Public schools were abruptly shut down and students were sent home on Tuesday after the police received a “credible bomb threat”.

Ramon C Cortines, the superintendent of schools, said he would keep schools closed until police had searched buildings to make sure the campuses were safe. Buses that had taken children to school this morning were turned around and sent back. The threat was received electronically.

The district, the second largest in the nation, has 640,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade at more than 900 schools and 187 charter schools.

The action came as the region remains on edge after the terrorist attack in San Bernardino less than two weeks ago that left 14 people dead and 22 wounded. Over the past two weeks, there have been a number of bomb threats. This one, Cortines said, raised more concerns.

“A threat had been made to not one school but many schools in this district,” he said. “Some of the details talked about backpacks and other packages. After talking with him, also with the board president, I made a decision to close all of the schools.”

He said he had asked officials to search all the schools within the district, and to “work systematically through the schools”.

“I’ve asked the plant managers to walk the school, and if they see anything that is out of order to call the police. Not to touch anything, but if they see anything out of line to contact the proper authorities,” Cortines said. He said the threat was directed at many schools, which is what prompted him to act.