The Command Post
Global War on Terror
« Terrorists Seize Russian School (Update 10) | Main | Russia Hostage Crisis, Continued (Part 3) [UPDATED 4] »
September 01, 2004
Russia Hostage Crisis, Continued [UPDATED 5]

I've started a new post (adding to these stories) so that the new developments don't get lost in too many updates.

Here's an intersesting tidbit that was posted on the Russia News Daily website this morning:

Security was tightened across the capital on Wednesday as throngs of schoolchildren marched in classes on the first day of the new school year, celebrated nationwide as the Day of Knowledge. Police officers on duty in all Moscow schools are to receive photos of two women believed to be planning new suicide attacks in the city.

UPDATE:

Ruslan Balgatov, the mufti of North Ossetia where the hostage taking unfolded this morning, entered the school earlier in an "attempt to open a dialogue with the terrorists," the news agency quoted local authorities as saying. But they said the hostage takers refused to open talks with Balgatov and demanded again to meet with the presidents of North Ossetia and neighboring Ingushetia.

Meanwhile, Russia has deployed troops to guard nuclear sites.

Here's a list of terror attacks in Russia in 2004 that have been linked to Chechen rebels.

UPDATE:

Now Russian officials are denying that there were 15 hostages released.

UPDATE

The leader of the Muslim community in Russia's North Ossetia province entered the school where armed attackers took up to 400 children and adults hostage on Wednesday, Itar-Tass news agency said. "He is trying to establish a contact with the terrorists," Itar-Tass news agency quoted officials in Beslan as saying of Mufti Ruslan Valgatov's mission. North Ossetia is predominantly Christian but has a small Muslim communtity

Also: Some news agencies are reporting that eight people have died, but there are no reports on whether they were students, adults or terrorists or how they died.

UPDATE:

Reports that nine people have died; one terrorist and nine civilians. No children are reported to be among the victims and I think we finally have confirmation on how many children - 132- are inside the building

UPDATE

One source is reporting that a loud blast has been heard coming from inside the school.

Meanwhile, pediatrician Leonid Roshal has arrived (he's been called a "preferred negotiator") and some negotiations have begun.

Posted by Michele at September 1, 2004 09:25 AM | TrackBack
Comments

"The leader of the Muslim community in Russia’s North Ossetia province entered the school where armed attackers took up to 400 children and adults hostage on Wednesday, Itar-Tass news agency said."

If the children are slaughtered by these animals, I have no doubt plenty of innocent muslims will die in places like North Ossetia.

Posted by: KH [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 1, 2004 10:40 AM

This terrorist tactic has been in the back of my mind since the Beltway Sniper shootings.

It would be unfathomably easy for terrorists to seize a school in any town, or more likely a number of towns, in the U.S. and effectively terrorize the entire country.

People would be scared to send their children to school, the government would spend billions to revamp security at every school in the country and there would be demands that we pull out of Iraq NOW to "save the children".

I pray to God that we don't have to experience what the mothers of Russia are going through today.

Posted by: Duane [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 1, 2004 12:52 PM

The Portland '7' were frustrated at their failure to fight against America in Afghanistan so they discussed, per 36 Federal wiretap warrants, shooting up a local community center that includes a grade school called the JCC, Jewish Community Center... think YMCA as it's open to the public...



Welcome, not to the future, but to the now and what the Bush Administration has prevented.

Posted by: DANEgerus [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 1, 2004 05:17 PM

Post a comment

Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (Click here should you choose to sign out.)

As you post your comment, please mind our simple comment policy: we welcome all perspectives, but require that comments be both civil and respectful. We also ask that you avoid the extensive use of profanity, racist terms (neither of which we consider civil or respectful), and other boorish language.

We reserve the right to delete any comment, and to prohibit you from commenting on this site, if we feel you have broached this policy. As a courtesy, we will first send you an email noting a violation so you understand the boundaries. This will occur only once, however, and should we ban you from our comment forums we expect that ban to be permanent.

We also will frown upon those who suggest that we ban other individuals for voicing unpopular opinions, should those opinions be voiced in a civil and respectful manner. The point of our comment threads is to provide a forum for spirited though civil and respectful discourse … it is not to provide a forum in which everyone will agree with your point of view.

If you can live by these rules, welcome aboard. If not, then we’re sorry it didn’t work out, and thanks for visiting The Command Post.


Remember me?