NEW YORK THREATENED TOO??? 640,000 students sent home after 'backpack bomb alert' !!

All Los Angeles schools have been closed over a credible terrorist threat. More than 640,000 children are urged to stay in their homes amid fears of an attack on the nation's second largest school district on Tuesday.

The FBI and explosive experts have been called in to sweep every locker, classroom, office, and bathroom of every campus across the 5,000-square-mile county.

Ramon Cortines, superintendent of Los Angeles schools who made the decision to close all 900 institutions, told a press conference at 7am Pacific Time he had received an email from overseas describing plans to bomb at least three schools and multiple students.

The threat mentioned backpacks and other objects, he said.

'I can't take a chance, I want all schools to be searched today,' 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.'

As the sun rose on Los Angeles on Tuesday, the gates of schools including Edward Roybal High School (pictured) remained locked, awaiting the arrival of SWAT teams to searches the premises for explosives.

Ramon Cortines (pictured), superintendent of Los Angeles schools who made the decision to close all schools, told a press conference he had received an email describing plans to bomb multiple schools and students.

Cortines (yellow cap) said he ordered searches on schools of all kinds - from elementary schools to colleges.

This is a shot of the thousands of school buses stalled in a car park in Los Angeles as all schools were shut.

He said he had ordered searches on schools of all kinds - from elementary schools to colleges.

This is not the first threat made against the district but this instance is unique, he said.

However, he insisted he is acting out of 'an abundance of caution' in light of the recent attack on the neighboring city of San Bernardino.

Steve Zimmer, president of the school district board, urged: 'Parents, if you have not sent your kids to school, do not send them to school.'

He said searches will start on all 900 campuses this morning and will be completed within the day. 'It's going to be a long day,' he added.

Students who had already arrived at school were sent to specific gates to be collected by parents or guardians.

Parents picking up their children have to bring 'proper ID', the school district said.

New York City officials say they received the same threat that led to the closure of the Los Angeles school system but quickly concluded that it was a hoax.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday morning that he was "absolutely convinced" there was no danger to schoolchildren in New York.

New York Police Commissioner William Bratton said he thought Los Angeles officials overreacted by deciding to close the nation's second-largest school system.

He said a school superintendent received the threatening email Tuesday morning.

Bratton said the person who wrote the note claimed to be a jihadist but made errors that made it clear the person was a prankster.

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