LOS ANGELES—All Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) campuses were closed on Tuesday, December 15, due to reports of a “credible threat,” authorities say. According to district officials, the LAUSD includes more than 900 campuses with more than 700,000 students enrolled; making it the nation’s second-largest school district. Officials from the LAPD are taking extra precautions with the FBI to investigate the terror threats given the recent events with the San Bernardino massacre that occurred less than two weeks ago.

At approximately 7:27 a.m., a community alert was issued by The Palisades Patrol indicating that all LAUSD schools in the district were closed due to an “electronic terrorist threat.” At approximately 8:44 a.m., all students on campus were prompted to meet their parents at designated reunion gates, according to the Palisades Patrol.

Officials from the Los Angeles Police Department indicated that the threat targeted multiple campuses that have not been specified at this time. Suspicious backpacks and packages were left on several campuses. LAUSD officials said the threat came in “electronic form” allegedly traced to an IP address from Frankfurt, Germany.

LAUSD Superintendent Ramon Cortines stated that no schools will open until all campuses have been searched by authorities. The search operation will be taking place at all LAUSD schools including early-education centers and adult schools.

While LAUSD schools have announced official closure, neighboring districts remain open. Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District’s (SMMUSD) Superintendent Sandra Lyon announced that “SMMUSD schools are open today” and has not received threats of any kind. “We are in communication with law enforcement and our administrators will be on high alert throughout the day,” said Lyon.

VMA Communications representative William Diepenbrock announced at 9:06 a.m., “While there has been an action taken by LAUSD leaders to close schools out of an abundance of caution, the following school districts will remain in session and are urging parents to send their students to school to maintain instructional continuity.” Those districts included Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bassett, Bellflower, Little Lake City, Lynwood, Montebello, Norwalk-La Mirada, Pomona, Santa Monica-Malibu, and Whittier.

For more information regarding the closure, parents and guardians can call 213-241-2064 with questions.