The Russian hostage crisis has ended abruptly in tragedy and chaos. There are conflicting descriptions of what actually happened. Some news services are reporting that the authorities stormed the building. Others are reporting the authorities returned fire after the kidnappers began shooting at a group of children fleeing the building. Sky News has the best description so far:
MANY DEAD IN SCHOOL SIEGE
The three-day school siege in Russia is coming to a dramatic and bloody end with reports of a large number dead.There are understood to be about 100 bodies in the school gym where gunmen were holding up to 1,500 children, teachers and parents.
Gunfire is continuing as Russian special forces face pockets of resistance.
The soldiers stormed the building after the gunmen opened fire on a group of children who were trying to escape. Russia’s security chief said they had not planned to go in.
As the school turned into a battleground, other children began to stream out. Then, it seems, the roof which had been mined by the rebels exploded and crashed to the ground.
Other hostages were pulled free and collapsed outside, exhausted, shocked and disorientated.
Many of the kidnappers have escaped. Some are reported to be cornered in a building in town.
UPDATE: Utro.ru has produced a handy timeline:
12:50 It all began when the attackers agreed to give out the bodies of the slain. Corpses lay in the school yard for two days. Two trucks were driven towards the school to carry out the bodies.
12:59 Word came that they were to remove the bodies. Members of the MChS rushed to carry out the bodies of two of the slain after which the attackers began to shoot from cover at the two trucks.
13:05 Two enormous explosions roared out which resulted in part of the building being knocked down. Shots rang out and they began to evacuate relatives of the hostages and journalists.
13:14 Word came that as the result of the shooting victims among the relatives of the hostages many were bad off.
13:15 It is believed that while the transfer of the bodies was taking place the attackers exploded a charge which they had previously planted. This opened the entrance.
13:16 Specialist forces began to set off low-power explosions to penetrate the walls of the school and give hostages a chance to flee (?)
13:17 A group of perhaps 15 schoolchildren fled the building. The attackers opened fire.
13:25 Shots were heard inside the building. Another explosion.
13:39 Specialist forces burst into the building.
13:44 We received information that two of the thugs had dressed themselves in doctor’s smocks and hid. It is possible they took some of the children with them.
14:18 Special forces are combing the building. Former hostage thirteen year old Sasha Pogrebnoy is being treated for deep shock.
14:33 158 children have been hospitalized.
14:36 7 of the terrorists were killed.
14:39 Evacuation of the school is proceeding.
14:45 Periodic shots are heard.
14:46 It is unclear how many people have been rescued from the school. Some accounts say more than 60, others say nearly 60.
14:53 They have deployed a mobile MChS hospital in Beslan.
The timeline continues.
BBC News has now produced a decent timeline. Check it out.
The current tally of those killed is about 200 with more than 700 people injured. of whom more than 250 are children. Although authorities have claimed that all of the terrorists (generally referred to in news accounts as “bandits” or “attackers”) had either been killed or apprehended, there are still rumors that four or five are still at large.
Sky News reports:
The Russian security service FSB said 20 rebels had been killed and claimed 10 of them were of Arabic rather than Chechen descent.
A policeman speaking on Russian television said bombs hung in basketball hoops in the school gym exploded, triggering the commando storming of building. A Russian security chief said they had not planned to go in.
As the school turned into a battleground, other children began to stream out. Then, it seems, the roof which had been mined by the rebels exploded and crashed to the ground.
Other hostages were pulled free and collapsed outside, exhausted, shocked and disorientated.
Several hostage-takers fled and were pursued by Russian tanks and special forces.
Public reaction to these events in Russia appears to be mixed. Putin is not being blamed (yet). The special forces are being criticized for being trigger-happy. Frankly, I believe that this is a bad rap. I think they did the best they could under very difficult circumstances. Clearly, the terrorists are the most to blame.
But I don’t honestly see how Putin can fail to respond. He was elected to bring greater security to Russia and this attack shows just how vulnerable they are. I expect stern measures.
And make no mistake: this can happen here.
“13:16 Specialist forces began to lay down small arms fire to penetrate the walls of the school and give hostages a chance to flee (?)”
The original has something like “set off low-power explosions”, rather than “lay down small arms fire” to penetrate the wall…
To All the Children,Mothers and Families.
May there truly be a Heaven. May all the children and families members be prayed for …….
Please, remember the children.
Our Deepest Sympathy…..
A Canadian Mother.
Thanks. I’ll change my translation accordingly.
our deapest thoughts and sympathies are with the people of russia for the loss of your beautiful children ,teachers and family members,at the hands of this cruel, weak dispicable terrorist action.this is the worst act i can imagine . though we can not begin to feel as you do we send you our love and prayers and know we are in mourning with you.and hope that the knowledge of our support will give you the strength and courage to get throught this most tragic time.UNITED WE STAND!
Julie