JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Angry parents claimed a bus driver forced their children off a school bus Wednesday five miles from home because they were Middle Eastern.

Ali Alhamad said his children, along with 10-20 others, were kicked off their bus because they were Muslim. He said many of the children were wearing Muslim religious attire.

Some children said the driver forced them off the bus at school, while others were kicked off at Rogero and Ft. Caroline roads, five miles from their usual stop at Caravan Circle and Atlantic Boulevard.

The Ft. Caroline Middle School students said they made the roughly five-mile walk home.

"Our legs were hurting. … When we came home we were crying," said student Sara Kazim (pictured, right).

First Student, the company that owns the bus, is investigating where the kids were dropped off and if racism motivated the incident.

"I don't have anything to substantiate this at all at this point," said John Ziegler of First Student. "Immediately we had a different driver on the bus. Also, the school has provided a school official who's going to drive with that bus."

The school's principal was outraged and wants an investigation. First Student said they need to investigate further and cannot yet say the driver is at fault.

First Student said the bus driver, who has a lot of experience as a driver, was an alternate. She is no longer driving the bus.

Ft. Caroline Middle School is something of a hub for foreign students, with children from 19 countries enrolled.