Hundreds of pupils in New Hampshire were told to stay at home on Monday after officials decided a “detailed threat of violence” was sufficiently credible to close schools in one district.
The 17 schools in the Nashua School District were closed after authorities said they received the threats directed at pupils and staff. The schools are expected to reopen on Tuesday.
The decision came amid widespread ongoing concerns over security in the US. There are specific concerns about threats to schools following several incidents and last week the Los Angeles Unified School District - the second largest in the country - canceled classes after receiving a threat that was later deemed to be a hoax. The closure involved more than 1,000 public schools.
School officials in New Hampshire have been working closely with Nashua police to determine whether the threat is credible, Nashua schools Superintendent Mark Conrad said in a statement posted on the district’s website.
“Because the threat is specific and extends to several schools, we will be cautious and close all of our public schools in Nashua tomorrow,” he said, according to Reuters.
A string of similar threats has poured in to major school systems across the country, although most have stayed open or quickly reopened. New York dismissed a threat last week to be a hoax and proceeded with lessons.
