September 3 of each year in Russia is declared the Day of Solidarity in the fight against terrorists. The same day is a day of remembrance for the victims of the infamous school siege. Beslan, this small Ossetian city, has become a symbol of the most terrible and inhuman actions of political fanatics. In the article, we recall the main events of this tragic day.
School takeover
Beslan, like all other Russian cities, on September 1, 2004 was preparing to open a new academic year. A solemn assembly traditionally took place at the local school No. 1. The event was attended by schoolchildren of all ages, as well as their parents and teachers. The celebration was interrupted by an unexpected burst of automatic weapons. A group of three dozen people drove up to the school building and announced the seizure of the school. Beslan, where the news quickly spread, was stunned. Inducing panic, the terrorists drove more than a thousand people into the school with threats, after which they promptly closed all entrances and exits from the building in order tocut off escape routes. Only a few escaped captivity
dozens of high school students (from 50 to 150) who managed to take advantage of the turmoil and escape from the schoolyard. During the hostage-taking, two civilians and one terrorist were killed. Having driven people into the main premises of the school, the militants took away all their video and photographic equipment, as well as mobile phones, after which they barricaded the exits of the building with tables. For greater reliability, explosives were placed throughout the school, with which the invaders subsequently threatened the negotiators.
Beslan captivity
After that, the most difficult and terrible hours and days of captivity began for the hostages in the school of the town of Beslan. The capture of the school eyewitness accounts are covered in the blackest colors. From the very beginning, the terrorists shot several strong adult men and high school students who could be a danger to them. Already on the first day, two dozen people were killed: for refusing to kneel before the terrorists, for talking, for not following orders, and so on. In addition, survivors subsequently spoke of the many tortures, rapes, and abuse that accompanied the takeover of the school. Beslan instantly became the center of attention of the entire Russian and world community. Already at 16.00, the first explosion thundered at the school, which claimed the lives of several hostages.
Second day of captivity
Only on the afternoon of September 2, the former president of Ingushetia, Ruslan Aushev, was allowed to enter the school. He became the only negotiator withwho
the terrorists agreed to talk. Of course, at the same time, the federal forces of the FSB and the Ministry of Emergency Situations were also sent to the city of Beslan. The seizure of the school, according to the militants, was carried out in order to force the Russian government to recognize the independence of Chechnya. Aushev managed to persuade the terrorists to release 24 people - mothers with babies. However, the militants did not wait for the fulfillment of their conditions. After the ex-president left the school, the invaders, who had not fed or watered people for more than a day, became completely brutal, toughening their attitude. On the morning of September 3, exhausted people, losing consciousness and suffering from hallucinations, simply stopped responding to the demands of the terrorists. The latter responded with new executions. On the same day, two more explosions thundered in the gymnasium, killing some of the hostages.
Storm the school
Explosions and new killings have become the last limit of patience for the security forces. On the afternoon of September 3, the assault on the school began. The terrorists put up fierce resistance, not shying away from using the hostages as human shields. As a result of the assault, all the militants were killed, except for one, who was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment. In addition, only 334 people died in the events, including 186 children.
