Nanaimo students to return home immediately after attack in Nice

The Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District says it's bringing back the 85 students and chaperones currently in Nice on a field trip. 

The school district said it was a "difficult decision" based on advice from other groups, including the district's violence threat risk assessment team, the Ministry of Education and the Canadian Centre for Threat Assessment. 

"Getting our students home safe, and providing counselling support for those in Nice is the number one priority for the district," said Superintendent John Blain in a written statement.

"They have witnessed a horrific event and will need ongoing support from the district. We are prepared to offer our counsellors to all students and staff for as long as they need." 

Some of the students were less than 30 metres from where the attack took place during the country's national Bastille Day holiday on Thursday. 

The group was scheduled to travel to Spain next as part of a cultural learning trip and return to Vancouver Island on July 25.

"In the aftermath of the Nice, France tragedy the whole region is now in a critical period," said J. Kevin Cameron, executive director of the Canadian Centre for Threat Assessment and Trauma Response.

"As France remains on high alert and Spain has been in a heightened state of alert for the past year, the likelihood of further risk to our students, staff and volunteers is simply too high." 

The district said it's working with the Education Ministry to schedule travel arrangements and determine any financial support that may be needed. 

It also said the ministry has sent a Canadian school psychologist and trauma response expert to spend the next few days with the group. 

Nobody on the school trip was injured during the attack.