BESLAN SCHOOL HOSTAGE CRISIS

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BESLAN SCHOOL HOSTAGE CRISIS

• Jeff Hrusovsky

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Standoff

• Occurred on September 3rd 2004.
• Hostages held by Chechen Separatists.
• On Wednesday morning they took over 1,000
  children and adults hostage.
• By Thursday they released 26 hostages but
  refused to allow food and water into the school.

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Plight

• Inside the school the hostages were crammed into
  a small gym.
• Around them the floor was scattered with mines
  and bombs connected by cables. Bombs were taped
  to the walls and suspended from the ceiling.

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Flashpoint

• Emergency workers enter the school to retrieve
  dead bodies
• Minutes later gunfire and explosions were heard
  and a number of hostages escaped.
• After a second large explosion the roof caved in
  and hostages started to run.

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Assault

• Special forces stormed the school and the
  security cordon
• Russian President Vladimir Putin later said the
  decision to go in was unplanned and taken after
  the attackers started shooting at children.
• Russian commanders reported that their troops
  were in full control of the building, but the
  gunfire continued.

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Escape

• As troops moved in half naked and bloody
  children began running out of the school.
• Those who were not seriously hurt were
  desperate for water.
• hundreds of bodies many of them children were
  found in the debris of the school gym.

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End

• Some of the attackers reportedly fled south and
  took refuge in a nearby house, where they were
  surrounded by special forces and killed.
• authorities later said special forces killed all
  but one of a total of 32 attackers
• Several other attackers fled to the school's
  basement, where they were killed in a gunfight

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Aftermath

• Emergency workers looking through the debris
  of the burnt down gymnasium uncovered the remains
  of some of the hundreds of children and adults
  killed.
• The siege left 331 people dead, including 186
  children. More than 700 people were injured.

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Quiz

• What was the total number on hostages taken?
• Name of the School it took place in?
• Who were the suspects?

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