Rick d'Israeli wrote:I've heard the reason for the special forces to storm the building, was because earlier this morning two terrorists blew themselves up while Russian soldiers, who were allowed to take away bodies of persons killed in the last few days, were in the school. Parts of the ceilings collapsed, and following that some dozens of people ran out the school. Than the terrorists started to shoot, and the Russian special forces stormed the building.
Probably here is the confirmation, because authorities says assault on siege school had not been planned.
Walter Hinteler wrote:
But "common knowledge"?
That is already nitpick ;-)
But yes, in general terms apart from Russia itself.
So up to now (according to Interfax)
- Over ten terrorists were killed in the fighting in Beslan, an Interfax correspondent reported.
- Gunfire is still being heard in Beslan though the operation to end the hostage crisis in the North Ossetian town is essentially over.
An Interfax reporter who was standing between 30-40 meters from the school that was the site of the crisis said sappers and investigators were working inside the building, that several fire engines were parked nearby and that ambulances were coming and going.
Rumors that some of the hostage-takers had escaped and might try to mix into the local population provoked local men into looking for them and seeking mob law justice.
An Interfax reporter saw young men trying to seize a man they suspected of being one of the former hostage takers. There were spurts of assault rifle fire in the air, and a crowd rushed to the site. It was impossible to see what followed except that police and troops rushed in and tried to pacify the crowd by shooting in the air.
- 6 resue workers have been killed.
[all of 18:15 local time, 15 mins ago]
Just heard in German radio (their correspondant in Beslan reported as first five hours ago about the hundred + dead) an interview (translated) with one hostage: they didn't get any water at all during all that period, and obviously all the dead hostages were shot by the terrorists.
This seems to confirmed by sources as well.
Interfax reported also that 100 deads had been found inside the school.
But Russian officials confirmed only some dead.
Officially now 150 deaths.
Walter Hinteler wrote: they didn't get any water at all during all that period
That is already clear, several posted in this thread. But still important,to hear this again.
150 deaths. Makes me so pissed off. Come on, we are talking about a school, children, their relatives celebrating the first day of school! And now this?! It really pisses me off (sorry for the language)
The North Ossetian Health Ministry said the number of people taken to Vladikavkaz hospitals after being wounded in the hostage crisis in Beslan stood at 456 as of 8:00 p.m. Moscow time.
The death toll from the hostage crisis in the North Ossetian town of Beslan may be much higher than 150, Russian presidential advisor Aslanbek Aslakhanov told journalists at the scene on Friday evening.
Aslakhanov said the number of people whom the terrorists took hostage in a Beslan school on Wednesday might have been about 1,200, and 70% of them were children.
Ten of the 20 hostage-takers who set off a major crisis in North Ossetia on Wednesday and were killed by Russian troops on Friday came from Arab countries, a Federal Security Service (FSB) official said.
(All from interfax and confirmed by German radio WDR2 correspondants et al.)
I just heard the number of wounded is around 650 (don't know the exact number). Just saw it on CNN.
Yes, that is already hard.
But some children (exact number unknown) are STILL being HELD as hostages,and battles continue still between troops and hostage-takers( twenty around them killed) .
How long still this drama goes on?
Nothing new about the hostages, but about the killed rebels:
Rick d'Israeli and the report of Anne Nivat wrote:[..]and the Wahhabists, mostly foreign Muslim fighters from the Middle East, although there are more and more Chechens joining their ranks. [...]
That ten of them are from Arab countries, according officals.
How many times did Bush refer to this terrible incident?
White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan says the president thinks the killings are "despicable" - according to FOX.
And that the hostage siege was "another grim reminder" of the lengths to which terrorists will go.
Walter Hinteler wrote:according to FOX.
Not a good source in this case, if you know what I mean. Let's put it this way, that he condems it as "barbaric attacks" and even
Walter Hinteler wrote:"another grim reminder"
Finally a Senior Russian general says operations are over - (according any reports)
and now Senior general says most kidnappers killed or arrested.
I've heard they just killed three terrorists who were hiding in the school's basement.
Now there are more than 200 dead inside the school Interfax news agency says with quoting regional health officials.
