The seizure of the school (Beslan): a chronicle of events

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 of the victims, the cause of which was the infamous seizure of the school. Beslan, this small Ossetian city, became a symbol of the most terrible and inhuman acts of political fanatics. In the article, we recall the main events of this tragic day.

Capture school

Beslan, like all other Russian cities, on September 1, 2004, was preparing to open a new academic year. In the local school number 1 traditionally there was a solemn line. The event was attended by schoolchildren of all ages, as well as their parents and teachers. The celebration was interrupted by an unexpected machine gun burst. A group of three dozen people came to the building of the school, who announced the seizure of the school. Beslan, which quickly spread the news, was dumbfounded. After panicking, terrorists with threats drove into the school more than a thousand people, and then quickly closed all the entrances and exits from the building to cut off the escape route. Only a few 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. After driving people to the main premises of the school, the militants took away all video and photo equipment, as well as mobile phones, after which they barricaded the exits from the building with tables. For greater reliability, explosives were spread throughout the school, through which the invaders threatened the negotiators later.

Beslan captivity

After that, the hardest and most terrible hours and day of captivity began at the school in the town of Beslan for the hostages. The school captures the stories of eyewitnesses in the blackest colors. Terrorists from the very beginning shot several strong adult men and high school students who could be dangerous for them. Already on the first day, two dozen people were killed: for refusing to kneel before terrorists, for talking, for not following orders, and so on. In addition, the survivors later told of the numerous tortures, rapes and bullying that accompanied the seizure of the school. Beslan immediately became the center of attention of the entire Russian and world community. Already at 16.00 the first explosion took place in the school, which took the lives of several hostages.

The second day of captivity

It was only on the afternoon of September 2 that Ruslan Aushev, the former president of Ingushetia, was allowed to enter the school. He became the only negotiator with whom The terrorists agreed to conduct the conversation. Of course, at the same time, federal forces of the FSB and the Ministry of Emergency Situations were also sent to the city of Beslan. The seizure of the school, as explained by the militants, was committed with the goal of forcing the Russian government to recognize Chechnya's independence. Aushev managed to persuade the terrorists to release 24 people - mothers with infants. However, the militants did not wait to fulfill their conditions. After leaving the school of the former president, the invaders, who had not fed and did not use people before that day, were completely brutalized and toughened their attitude. On the morning of September 3, weakened people, losing consciousness and suffering from hallucinations, simply stopped reacting to the demands of terrorists. The latter responded with new shootings. On the same day two more explosions thundered in the gym, which killed some of the hostages.

Assault of the school

Explosions and new murders became the last patience line for the siloviki. In the afternoon of September 3, the storming of the school began. The terrorists resisted fiercely, not disdaining to use hostages as human shields. As a result of the assault, all the militants were killed, except one, who was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment. In addition, as a result of the events, only 334 people died, including 186 children.