Hundreds of Los Angeles Schools Closed Today Because of Bomb Threat

Responding to an “electronic threat” that may have been emailed to the district from overseas, all Los Angeles Unified School District campuses were closed today and a massive effort began to search the roughly 900 schools in the district.

There have been no threats or closures reported in Orange County.

The unprecedented action was taken after a school board member received a bomb threat that was considered “credible.” The threat was emailed to a Los Angeles Unified School Board member from overseas. The threat reportedly referenced a potential threat inside packages and backpacks.

Board of Education President Steve Zimmer said the district closed the schools ”out of an abundance of caution,’’ an action that earned swift criticism from Former LAPD Chief William Bratton, now the police commissioner in New York, where a similar threat was deemed a hoax. Bratton called the LAUSD decision a “significant overreaction.”

The district, the nation’s second biggest, serves more than 700,000 students. Most other Southland schools outside the LAUSD remained open, although there were sporadic reports of some Catholic schools in the Los Angeles Archdiocese being closed because of their proximity to LAUSD campuses.

School Superintendent Ramon Cortines described “a rare threat,’’ adding that he ordered the closures because he was not going to take a chance given recent terror strikes in Paris and San Bernardino.

“I think it’s important to take this precaution based on what has happened recently and what has happened in the past,” he said, speaking less than two weeks after a couple -- a U.S. citizen of Pakistani background and his Pakistani wife -- killed 14 people in San Bernardino in the deadliest terror strike on U.S soil since 9/11.”

For children who have already arrived at school, parents must show photo ID when picking up children. The school district has set up a phone line for parents at 213-241-2026. All Metro buses and trains will be free today for LAUSD students, according to Mayor Eric Garcetti.

The schools have been closed since 7 a.m. Parents and students arriving at campus are being turned away.

Anthony Carson’s son attends Eagle Rock Elementary.

“My sister called me in the morning, and she informed me that there could be a bomb threat going around the LAUSD,” he told NBC. “It’s a pretty scary morning. It’s scary times right now.”

Carson said he didn’t know how to explain the danger to his son.

“He’s only four right now, and it’s kind of hard to explain because he doesn’t know what’s going on in the world with what happened in Paris and San Bernardino. He’s just happy all the time, so it’s kind of hard to explain something that’s so scary that could affect his whole life,” he added. “It amazes me that people would want to go that far to injure children.”

Multiple police agencies are investigating the case.

• Related: ‘Credible Threat,’ 640,000 Students: 5 Things About LA School Closings

“Earlier this morning, we did receive an electronic threat that mentioned the safety of our schools,” school police Chief Steve Zipperman said. “As a result of that threat, the Los Angeles School Police Department, as well as the Los Angeles Police Department and the FBI were notified, and right now, the threat is still being analyzed. “In an abundance of caution, as Superintendent Cortines has indicated, we have chosen to close our schools today until we can be absolutely sure that our campuses are safe.”

LAUSD is the second-largest school district in the country, serving more than 640,000 students, according to its website. It includes more than 900 schools and 187 charter schools.

The closures came on a day when finals were scheduled at high schools, leading some students to speculate that a student fearing exams was involved, according to broadcast reports.

Some other school districts issued preliminary information as follows:

-- In Torrance, officials reported that schools in that city would be open.

-- All Hawthorne schools will be open today, except for Cimarron Elementary School, which is part of LAUSD, Hawthorne police reported.

-- In Gardena, only LAUSD schools will be closed today. Other campuses will be open.

-- All Palos Verdes Unified School District schools will be open today.

-- All Diamond Bar, Walnut, Culver City and Rowland Heights area public schools are open today.

This is a breaking news situation. Check back for updates.

City News Service contributed to this report.