Bomb threat cancels Rye High School basketball game

RYE – A student basketball game was canceled Friday when a bomb threat forced the evacuation of Rye High School.

The Westchester County Department of Public Safety responded to the building around 6:45 p.m. and, along with city police, scoured the building at 1 Parsons St. No devices were found.

The 7 p.m. game, which was to have featured girls high school teams from New Rochelle and Rye, was canceled on account of the telephoned threat.

Frank Alvarez, superintendent of Rye schools, said the "all clear" signal was given shortly after 8 p.m., after police searched the school with bomb-sniffing dogs.

Police would not comment on the incident.

Alvarez said authorities will be looking into who made the threat.

"Our highest priority is the safety of our students, faculty and staff," he said in an email Friday night. "An investigation into the source of the threat is now underway."

The threat is at least the second at the school in recent months.

On Oct. 21, the high and middle schools were evacuated after district officials received a threat at the start of the school day.

Authorities searched both school buildings, allowing students to resume classes about 11:30 a.m.

Bruce Daniele, coach of the New Rochelle team, said Friday's game — the championship of the Rye Rotary Tournament — may possibly be made up in mid-January.