Schools in the city of Los Angeles in the western United States were closed on Tuesday, December 15, following the release of a threatening email. Local officials are concerned about a potential attack similar to the deadly shooting in San Bernardino. Officials in New York City also confirmed receiving a similar email but stated that this threat was merely a joke. Bill de Blasio, the mayor of New York, said he is 'completely convinced' that there is no threat to the schools in his city. According to him and local officials in Los Angeles, this threat was sent via a 'public' email to schools across all cities. Nevertheless, Los Angeles schools were closed, and local officials defended their decision. Charlie Beck, the police chief of the city, stated that it is easy to criticize a decision whose outcomes may not be known. According to the Associated Press, in this context, 900 public schools and 178 private schools were closed, affecting the status of 640,000 students. Another local official in Los Angeles stated that all schools in the city would be inspected to ensure their safety. William Bratton, the police commissioner, described the decision to close schools as a 'meaningful emotional reaction.' He, who once headed the Los Angeles police, said: 'We should not allow ourselves to raise the level of concern and fear.' Bratton added that the individual who wrote this email claims to be a jihadist, but the spelling mistakes indicate that he made a tasteless joke, for example, writing the first word 'Allah' in lowercase.
Closure of Los Angeles Schools Following Release of a 'Threatening Email'
Los Angeles schools were closed due to a threatening email that raised concerns of a potential attack. Local officials took precautionary measures, while New York officials deemed a similar threat as a joke. This incident highlights the heightened security concerns in urban areas following past attacks.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Los Angeles schools were closed due to a threatening email that raised concerns of a potential attack. Local officials took precautionary measures, while New York officials deemed a similar threat as a joke.
- 900 public schools and 178 private schools were closed, affecting 640,000 students.
- The email sender claimed to be a jihadist, but officials noted spelling mistakes suggesting it was a joke.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The threat of terrorism has led to increased security measures in many urban areas, particularly in the wake of past attacks. Public responses to threats can vary significantly based on local contexts.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 90%