State Says Bus Threat 'Not Credible'

An email sent to state officials last week that references attacking school buses is not considered a credible threat, according to a memo sent to school districts Wednesday afternoon.

"According to the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) – State Office of Counter Terrorism, although law enforcement authorities are treating this threat seriously and continue to investigate, they are not considering this a credible threat at this time," the memo read.

Late Wednesday, Lindenhurst School District issued a statement regarding the threat and how it’s taking measures to ensure the safety of its students.

This comes on the heels of Superintendent Richard Nathan issuing a statement on the district’s website following on school grounds Monday.

Today’s statement, which is on the district's website, read:

“The Lindenhurst Union Free School District received a notice from the New York State Education Department (SED) informing us of threats of violence that were made against state legislature, state office buildings and school buses throughout the state. It is our understanding that all districts throughout the state have received this notice. In the Lindenhurst School District, student safety is always of paramount importance. As a result, any potential threat, however remote, triggers an obligation to act in our students’ best interests.

“Upon receipt of this information, we immediately notified our pupil transportation contractor, central office administrators, safety director and building administrators. Our bus company was directed to issue written and verbal notification of the threat to their drivers and technicians, along with a review of appropriate safety protocols, and that no one from their company was to operate a vehicle until this information was clearly understood. Moreover, all principals have alerted employees supervising students to remain vigilant regarding any unusual activity, and to communicate any suspicious activity immediately.”

The threatening email that spurred heightened security measures in school districts across the state was received by state officials April 1, and was released to Long Island school districts Tuesday.

As by Patch, at least two school districts,  and , posted the warning on their websites.

The e-mail made specific threats of violence to state office buildings, the state legislature and school buses. No specific school districts were mentioned, however.

One line read, "If we attack a school bus full of kids it may have no effect on the hardened criminals who rule Albany, but it will put the public in an uproar."

School bus drivers across the island were alerted to the threat and told to take additional safety precautions, an official with of Plainview confirmed.

As , the official said WE Transport, Long Island's largest fleet of school buses, was alerted to the threat on Monday.

As a result, all drivers and technicians were instructed to conduct pre-trip and post-trip inspections with "an added sense of caution and urgency."

The warning message came through the New York State Education Department.

It warned drivers and others to be wary of strangers approaching school buses.