Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Los Angeles schools closed over bomb threat




ALL Los Angeles public schools have been closed after a bomb threat was called in to a school board member.
During a press conference officials said they received the electronic threat and were still analysing it. They said the action was being taken out of an abundance of caution. Schools would remain closed until the threat was cleared, which they expected to happen by the end of the day.
“We need the 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.”
Not taking chances ... Ramon Cortines is the Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Picture: Supplied
Not taking chances ... Ramon Cortines is the Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied
Ramon Cortines, superintendent of Los Angeles schools who made the decision to close all 900 institutions, said he received an email describing plans to bomb multiple schools and students.
The threat mentioned backpacks and other objects, he said.
“I can’t take a chance, I want all schools to be searched today,” Mr Cortines insisted. “I’m not taking a chance of bringing children into a place, into any part of a building, until I know it’s safe.”
Mr Cortines said he had ordered searches on schools of all kinds - from elementary schools to colleges.
He said it was not the first threat made against schools but that it was unique.
He said he is acting out of ‘an abundance of caution’ in light of the recent attack in San Bernardino.
The district, the second largest in the nation, has 640,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade and more than 900 schools and 187 public charter schools.
The district spans 1864 square kilometres including Los Angeles and all or part of more than 30 smaller cities and some unincorporated areas.

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