国际英语新闻: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.”  He said the "electronic" threat referred to "backpacks and other packages," adding that the FBI was notified.

Officials said the message came in a email to a school board member. 

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.

But in Los Angeles, officials say the threat is still being analyzed.  The 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.