On This Day: 340 Killed in Beslan, Russia, Hostage Situation

Background

On September 1, 2004, a group of Chechen separatists took over School Number One in Beslan, Russia. They held 1,128 people hostage for three days, resulting in one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Russian history.

Events

* September 1: The terrorists stormed the school during the morning assembly. They planted explosives and took the hostages to the school gym. * September 2-3: The hostages were held without food or water. Negotiations between the terrorists and authorities broke down. * September 3: Two explosions occurred inside the gym, triggering a chaotic escape attempt. Russian special forces stormed the building, leading to a fierce firefight.

Casualties

* 334 hostages were killed, including 186 children. * Ten terrorists were killed. * 728 hostages were rescued, many of whom were injured.

Aftermath

* The Beslan hostage crisis had a profound impact on Russia and the world. * It raised questions about the effectiveness of counterterrorism measures and the use of force in hostage situations. * The incident led to increased security measures in schools and public places in Russia.