A grizzly bear is on the loose after attacking a school group in Canada, leaving 11 people injured, two critically.
The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon on a walking trail in Bella Coola, British Columbia.
Residents have been warned to stay indoors while armed officers attempt to locate the animal.
A male teacher reportedly bore the brunt of the attack, and some children were hit with bear spray as adults tried to fend off the bear. Veronica Schooner, a parent, recounted that her 10-year-old son was part of the group but was not attacked. He described how the bear ran very close to him, targeting someone else, and he even felt its fur.
British Columbia Emergency Health Services reported that two individuals were critically injured, two were seriously hurt, and others received treatment at the scene.
The group was from Acwsalcta School, operated by the indigenous Nuxalk Nation, located about 700 km (435 miles) northwest of Vancouver.
In a Facebook post, the Nation urged, Officers are armed. Remain indoors and off the highway. They expressed their gratitude for the emergency response and announced the school would temporarily close, offering counseling services for those affected.
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