WASHINGTON, March 19: Police searched all schools in Washington, D.C., on Friday after receiving a threat via the Internet that bombs had been placed in five schools.

"There was a general call that five schools have explosive devices in them," police spokesman Officer Quentin Peterson said by telephone. "The threat was received through an Internet relay service."

He said police were searching all schools in the US capital, including private schools, because it was unclear which schools had been targeted.

An FBI spokeswoman said there had been an Internet threat that bombs would go off at five schools at noon (1700 GMT) on Friday, but the schools and the area were not specified. She said the FBI was on standby and would assist if needed. -Reuters