A GRIZZLY bear has attacked children and teachers on a school trip, leaving at least 11 injured.
Armed cops and conservation officers rushed to the scene but the “aggressive bear” is still on the loose, according to indigenous community Nuxalk Nation.
Locals have been urged to stay indoors as authorities desperately hunt for the beast, Sky reports.
A group of fourth and fifth graders were reportedly on a walk with teachers when the fierce animal attacked.
The assault took place on Thursday afternoon in Bella Coola, British Columbia in Canada.
Veronica Schooner, whose son was in the class group which was attacked, said bear spray was used on the animal.
A number of people tried to stop the bear but a male teacher “got the whole brunt” of the attack, she said.
He was airlifted from the trail in a helicopter.
She added her son was so close to the animal he even felt its fur.
But the animal was “going for somebody else”.
She added: “he keeps crying for his friends – right away he started praying for his friends.”
In an announcement, the school said it would be closed on Friday.
It added counselling would be offered to those affected by the incident.
In a statement, it said: “It’s hard to know what to say during this very difficult time. We are so grateful for our team and our students.”
It added the kids would be taken home by bus or SUV.
The student go to the Acwsalcta School, an independent school run by the indigenous group.
It comes as two polar bears fatally mauled a radar technician while he was taking wildlife photos for social media.
A fellow employee fired a non-lethal bear-banger – but it was too late to save Christopher Best from being killed in Canada.
The amateur photographer enjoyed snapping and sharing pics on social media while he worked at a remote radar site for a logistics firm in Nunavut.
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Best, 34, had downplayed his family’s fears when they asked him about his proximity to the fierce beasts, reported CTV News today.
But he ended up being attacked by two polar bears on August 8, 2024.