UPDATE: Classes Cancelled at 2 Manhattan Beach Schools

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA - Two schools in Manhattan Beach were closed for the day today “due to a specific threat,” but authorities later reported that “no suspicious activity exists” at either campus and all schools in that city will be open on Monday, with a continued police presence.

Meanwhile, police in Redondo Beach were investigating whether graffiti found at a school in that city is related to the threats.

This morning, Manhattan Beach police responded to reports of threats at Mira Costa High School at 701 S. Peck Ave. and Pennekamp Elementary School at 110 S. Rowell Ave. and urged people to stay away from the campuses while they conducted an investigation.

Early this afternoon, police reported that they had determined that “no suspicious activity exists at Mira Costa High School or Pennekamp Elementary.”

“The Manhattan Beach Police Department and the FBI will continue to investigate the matter,” a police statement said.

“Mira Costa High School administrative offices are now open,” police said. “School will resume as usual at all (Manhattan Beach Unified School District) school sites on Monday ... (with a) continued police presence at all Manhattan Beach schools on Monday as a precautionary measure.”

In Redondo Beach, police were notified early today that graffiti was found on the grounds of Redondo Union High School, said Redondo Beach police Sgt. Shawn Freeman.

“The graffiti was a general threat of: ‘you are all (expletive) animals being led to the slaughter as you deserve,’ “ Freeman said.

“No specific threats were emailed or telephoned to Redondo Union High School,” Freeman said. “The graffiti was located on a sidewalk near the school cafeteria area, spray-painted in red.”

Freeman said there would be an “increased police presence” at Redondo Union High School today, and investigators would work with their counterparts in Manhattan Beach to determine if the incidents in the two cities were related.

Four days ago, a “non-specific” threat prompted authorities to evacuate Mira Costa High School and cancel classes for the day, Manhattan Beach policed said. A search of the campus turned up nothing dangerous, however.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

City News Service