Ossetian "Nord-Ost"

Terrorists take 400 people hostage

Unknown rebels have seized a school in the North Ossetian town of Beslan Wednesday morning. Republic’s minister of emergency situations Boris Dzgoev stated in his interview to RIA “Novosti” that the public school №1 had been seized about 8:00 am. According to witnesses, there were 15 with masks armed with grenade cup discharge and rifles. There could be up to 400 people, children and adults, inside the building.

Some time later, local law enforcement came up with updated information. According to them, there were 17 armed men, one of which had been shot earlier in a gunfight. There are also several female suicide bombers among the terrorists, informs the Ministry of Internal Affairs of North Ossetia. All hostages had been moved to the gym. Supposedly, one of the schoolgirls managed to escape.
The terrorists’ motives and demands remain unknown. According to preliminary information, two local residents had been wounded during the seizure.

According to Dzgoev, ministries’ spokesmen have already left for the crime scene. They will attempt negotiating with the rebels. The minister could not identify those who had seized the school.

Plenipotentiary of the president of the Russian Federation in the southern federal district Vladimir Yakovlev has confirmed what happened in the North Ossetian town of Beslan. “Currently, military units are on their way to the school. It is unknown at this point how many parents and students have been taken hostage. There is an ongoing shooting the area,” stated Yakovlev to journalists in Nalchik.

According to some unofficial information source, school №6has also been seized in Beslan. Yakovlev however did not confirm the information.

Political department

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