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N0KFQ > TODAY 03.09.13 16:12l 49 Lines 2253 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 4062_KB0WSA
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Sep 3
Path: IZ3LSV<I0OJJ<VE3UIL<N0KFQ<KB0WSA
Sent: 130903/1357Z 4062@KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA BPQK1.4.55
Sep 3, 2004:
Russian school siege ends in bloodbath
A three-day hostage crisis at a Russian school comes to a violent
conclusion after a gun battle erupts between the hostage-takers
and Russian security forces. In the end, over 300 people died,
many of them children, while hundreds more were injured.
On the morning of September 1, a group of Chechan terrorists
surrounded students, teachers and parents on the playground of
School No. 1 in Beslan as they held a celebration in honor of the
first day of the school year. Some people managed to escape while
others were killed; however, the majority, an estimated 1,200
adults and children, were herded into the school gym, which the
hostage-takers rigged with a number of explosive devices. Later
that day, Russian authorities began negotiation talks with the
terrorist, whose demands included the withdrawal of Russian
troops from Chechnya. Negotiations broke down after two days and
early on the afternoon of September 3, an explosion went off in
the gym--accidentally, according to some survivors. Some hostages
died immediately, and more were killed or injured when the gym
collapsed. Further chaos ensued as Russian police and soldiers
opened fire on the school. Some hostages were moved to the
cafeteria and forced to stand at the windows as human shields,
where they where caught in the crossfire.
In total, 331 people were killed as a result of the seige, 186 of
them children, and over 700 more individuals were injured.
Russian authorities claimed there was a total of 32 terrorists,
31 of whom died during the siege. Some surviving hostages claimed
there had been additional terrorists who managed to escape.
Residents of Beslan blamed Russian authorities for badly
mishandling the crisis, saying rescue operations were poorly
planned and troops used excessive force.
Shamil Basayev, a militant Islamist and leader of the Chechen
separatist movement, claimed responsibility for the Beslan school
siege. In 2006, Nurpashi Kulayev, the only known surviving
hostage-taker, was sentenced to life in prison. That same year,
Basayev died in an explosion, the cause of which remains unclear.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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