Church near US shooting site evacuated following threat

WASHINGTON - A church in US state Connecticut was evacuated Sunday because of an unspecified threat. The church was near the site of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting which had left 28 people dead.

According to Danbury News Times, a standing room at St.Rose of Lima Church in Sandy Hook was evacuated during Noon mass on Sunday.

Hundreds of people were sent out of the church about midway through the priest's homily, and no further information on the threat was given. Local and state police, including heavily armed officers were at the scene.

The church is not far from Sandy Hook Elementary School, where 26 people were killed by a lone gunman Friday morning. Before the rampage, the gunman, who later killed himself, also shot dead his mother at her home nearby.

Earlier Sunday, state police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance said there have been threats and other false information spread on social media sites. Vance said anyone caught making threats will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

President Barack Obama is to visit the community to meet with family of victims later Sunday.