The Associated Press is reporting that several large explosions have been heard from the buildings where terrorists are holding Russian schoolchildren, parents, and teachers:
BESLAN, Russia — Two explosions rocked the area around a school where heavily armed militants, some strapped with bombs, were holed up for a second day Thursday with about 350 hostages including many children in southern Russia (search).
The explosions came about 10 minutes apart, from the vicinity of the school, followed by a cloud of black smoke. No further details were available and it was impossible to see exactly what happened because police had cordoned off the area.
These explosions appear to be outgoing fire.
I honestly see little hope for this situation being resolved without substantial loss of life. The Russians are faced with a Hobson’s choice. Who can jeopardize the life of a child? But concessions to the terrorists will put every Russian child’s life at risk. And in a country with as low a birth rate as Russia’s every child is that much more precious.
The Russians have been calling the destruction of flights Tu-134 and Tu-154 last week their 9/11. They were wrong. It was their Lockerbie. This may be their 9/11.
