JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Families of 14 Muslim middle school students who say a bus driver insulted their religion as he removed them from a school bus have filed official notice that they will sue over the case.

Attorneys for the families and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil-rights group based in Washington, said in their notice that the driver "was hostile, intimidating and made religious slurs."

The driver said he removed the students, ages 12-14, from the bus on Oct. 29 because they were disobedient and verbally abusive.

The Fort Caroline Middle School students, recent immigrants from the Mideast and Central Asia, said they had to walk 5 miles home.

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A civil-rights investigation is under way by the Florida Attorney General's Office.

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