The Command Post
Global War on Terror
September 03, 2004
Russia News: At Least 200 Dead/Other Updates [Updated 3]

via Interfax:

A total of over 200 people were killed over the course of the hostage situation in Beslan, sources in the North Ossetian Health Ministry told Interfax. "Over 200 people were shot by militants or died of injury received when explosive devices were set off by the militants," a source said.

Also:

“All of the militants who held hundreds hostage in a school here appear to have been killed or captured,” a senior Russian military commander said Friday.

--

Chechan separatists, including leader Akhmed Zakaev, are blaming Putin for the many deaths:

“Russian power structures followed president Putin’s direct orders and stormed the school with a huge number of hostages.” According to Zakaev, “there was a real chance to solve the dreadful crisis without victims or blood,” had the Russian authorities fulfilled the terrorists’ requirements.

[via Kommersant]

UPDATE:

Stan at Logic and Sanity translated a hostage's account of the ordeal. Excerpt:

"9:10am I walked my son (5th grader)to school. Two minutes after we walked into the court yard came the terrorists. There were about 20 of them and also 2 females. They herded us inside the school through the corridor and windows. Right away they killed 12-20 men - one at a time. Then a tank arrived and killed one of the terrorists, so they put several hostages next to a window and shot them dead. They threatened to kill 10 hostages for their dead, but I only saw about 4.

Read the whole thing.


UPDATE:

Officials say that 27 terrorists in all were killed.

Posted by Michele at September 3, 2004 06:07 PM | TrackBack
Comments

Requirements like: dont retaliate when you see us firing on 15 kids running for thier lives screaming for help?

If that was caught on tape or if theres plenty of witnesses then the russian soldiers will come out of the following PR sleezefest alright.

Posted by: Ronin [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 3, 2004 05:39 PM

Initial triage shows most of the kids reciieved gunshot wounds to the back. Even Kerry can (on the other hand, nah, he couldn't...) figure out who was in the back and who was in the front of an escaping kid.

Posted by: v [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 3, 2004 05:49 PM

Don't you just love this:

“Russian power structures followed president Putin’s direct orders and stormed the school with a huge number of hostages.” According to Zakaev, “there was a real chance to solve the dreadful crisis without victims or blood,” had the Russian authorities fulfilled the terrorists’ requirements.

Indeed there was, you sociopathic shitheel. Your jihad-crazed pals could have unwired their bombs, dropped their AKs and walked the hell out of the school. Instead your glorious shahids shot kids in the back and detonated bombs that killed hundreds. You are the trouble, asshole, and I pray that Vladimir Putin finds a good "troubleshooter," if you get my drift.

To suggest that your imprisoned buddies be set free to murder yet more innocent people is utterly delusional, worthy of Allah-addled fools, not sentient human beings. If it takes exterminating homicidal freaks like you to end this, I'm all for it.

Posted by: Jeffersonian [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 3, 2004 06:48 PM

I can't believe that anyone is so full of bile toward either candidate that they would take this particular moment of horror and it to make a political swipe.

Posted by: derby [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 3, 2004 08:11 PM

Derby -

As I said in another comment...I know this isn't the time but this election is about stopping this madness. There is no other country that has the power to give it a shot. So...if we don't want to see this, this, or this around our schools then...well...just choose your next President wisely.

Ya know...and this may be too much for some of you...we may have gotten off easy on 9/11. We didn't get to see the bodies of our children...the product of this Evil. I honestly believe I'm more angry about this...more prepared to take on this battle on a very personal level than I was after our own experience. Don't get me wrong here...I'm for the open slaughter of these barbarians. It's not about Islam. It's not political. It's about the survival of every child on this planet.

Prayers for the families, surviving victims, and soldiers. To hell with the barbarians...can't happen soon enough.

Posted by: Wayne Fielder [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 3, 2004 10:11 PM

WF: And prayers for the lost ones. We must defeat this incarnate evil, despite the collateral damage that requires. Is it too much to ask that the captured perpetrators be made to suffer like their victims?

Posted by: TomTom [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 3, 2004 11:26 PM

The Telegraph has a complete summary of the ordeal, with a photo gallery, links, a regional map and also a layout of the school itself.

This is just too sickening for words.

Posted by: marymcl [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 3, 2004 11:59 PM

After 50+ years of Cold War, perhaps this tragedy,
this obscenity will allow the people of Russia and those of the United States to work together hand in hand?

In WWII The Russians and Americans were able to wipe out the filth that was fascism, and the world was a better place. Perhaps today we can recreate the same Crusade (and I use the word advisedly).

I know that I speak for all right minded CP ers when I say that our prayers and best wishes go out to the families caught up in this tragedy, and we join them in an unflinching resolve to destroy the filth that commit such acts.

The support of grass roots Americans will be eneormously appreciated by your Rusian allies, get on the net now, (Russian Embassy) and let them know>

Posted by: max [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 4, 2004 05:00 AM

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