200 Russian Schoolchildren Taken Hostage

[Diff-chan]

They're Muslim. Those whackos are inolved in nearly every conflict going on worldwide.

Yes, the Religion of Peace strikes again... with peace!

[g0zen]

They're Muslim. Those whackos are inolved in nearly every conflict going on worldwide.

And yet, they've still got a long way to go before they'll ever compare with the number of wars, deaths, and atrocities committed in the name of Christianity and Judaism.

[MechDeus]

And yet, they've still got a long way to go before they'll ever compare with the number of wars, deaths, and atrocities committed in the name of Christianity and Judaism.

We all need something to strive for.

[ChaoofNee]

...and, of course this already has the potential to turn into a political-Bush-war thread, a "your religion is stupid" thread, and a "I have way too much attatchment to my news source" thread. Why does it have to?

As for the hostage situation, I find it quite the cowardly act. Taking kids hostage with explosives... disgusting.

[Fe 26]

And yet, they've still got a long way to go before they'll ever compare with the number of wars, deaths, and atrocities committed in the name of Christianity and Judaism.

And yet, Christians and jews finally stopped that shit. Why are the Muslims, STILL doing this sort of thing?

[g0zen]

You want my real theory? The Muslims are in the middle of their own Dark Age, much akin to ours after the fall of Rome. Their great empires and civilizations crumbled around the time of the first world war. Now the Muslim world is fractured, frightened, and has lost nearly all of its great tradition of knowledge and culture to fundamentalism, oppression, and greed. This is a sad thought, however, seeing as it took a plague and a Renaissance before we finally grew out of our dark times. What could possibly bring Islam out of its?

[Almaci]

First of all as a muslim I believe that taking innocent life is never justified.

Second your reply can be found in history of the regions and is far less religious then most people seem to think.

In Chechnya´s case its literally over the body´s off a few million killed people.

The horrible cruelty of doomed people.

Sadly orhanisations like Al Queda take advantage of the hoples and weakminded and we get horrors like this.

[station82o]

Back to the subject, 200 people have been killed in the seige including many children. Here's a BCC news report:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3624024.stm

High death toll in Russia siege


Many of the children were half-naked, because of the intense heat inside the crowded building

At least 200 people have been killed during the bloody climax of a three-day hostage crisis at a school in southern Russia, health ministry officials say. Hundreds of people were injured when explosions and shooting brought the siege to a violent end. Many of the casualties were children.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived on a surprise visit to the site at Beslan, North Ossetia, reports say.

Officials said 27 hostage-takers were killed and three were arrested alive.

The BBC's Damian Grammaticas, at the scene, says three other hostage-takers are still on the run.

The armed group took over the school on Wednesday.

Russian officials have described some of the hostage-takers as mercenaries from Arab countries.

Terrified children

Heavy gunfire and explosions began on Friday morning, and it was many hours before special forces had control of the school.


1 - At 0850GMT a vehicle from the emergencies ministry is sent in to retrieve the bodies of those killed at the start of the siege.
2 - A series of blasts rock the gym, bringing the roof down.
3 - Hostages start running. The attackers fire at them to try to block their escape, prompting the troops outside to shoot back.





See how it happened



It appears the violence began as medical workers drove into the school complex in a pre-agreed trip to collect the bodies of casualties who died when the school was first seized.

A sudden explosion, which some reports suggest may have gone off accidentally, seems to have prompted hostage-takers to begin shooting indiscriminately.

Hostages panicked and tried to flee, while Russian forces stormed the school in an unplanned operation.

There were scenes of pandemonium, as terrified and half-naked children ran from the school amid intense gun battles.

More than 700 people were injured. The health ministry of North Ossetia told Interfax news agency that by the early hours of Saturday morning local time, 531 people remained in hospital - half of them children.

Ninety-two children are said to be in a critical condition.

More than 1,000 people are thought to have been in the school as parents joined their children for festivities on the first day of term.

'Grim reminder'

Correspondents say the day's events have taken Moscow by surprise.



Relatives were running around screaming and crying




Eyewitness: Chaos in battle



There has been no public comment so far from President Putin, though two Russian news agencies report he is visiting a local hospital where survivors are being treated.

Meanwhile, US President George W Bush described the events as "another grim reminder" of terrorism.

"We stand with the people of Russia, we send them our thoughts and prayers in this terrible situation," he said.

Correspondents say many of those released were desperate for water when they came out, and some were barely able to stand.


Click below for a detailed map of Beslan

Enlarge Map





One boy described his escape.

"I smashed the window to get out," he told Russian TV. "People were running in all directions... [The rebels] shot from the roof."

Ambulances ferried hundreds of people to hospital.

Witnesses later saw at least 100 bodies piled inside the ruins of the school.

The attackers - both men and women, some wearing bomb belts - had demanded independence for the troubled region of Chechnya, where Russian forces have been involved in a bloody conflict with separatists for several years.

[NightWolve]

Back to the subject, 200 people have been killed in the seige including many children.

I'm sorry, but I don't wanna get back to the subject. I think this is a perfect oppurtunity to convey my disgust for the FOX News network; the hyper right-wing news propoganda outlet for the GOP!! Sorry, I needed to get that off my chest. Ok, now, back to the ~200 dead people. Horrible, absolutely horrible... But still, that goddamn FOX News gets on my friggin' nerves...

[Almaci]

And yet, Christians and jews finally stopped that shit. Why are the Muslims, STILL doing this sort of thing?

Palestine ring a bell(Jews), what about the genocide in ruanda instigated by a catholic priest in 94 that killed over a million?

Recent enough for ya?

You want my real theory? The Muslims are in the middle of their own Dark Age, much akin to ours after the fall of Rome. Their great empires and civilizations crumbled around the time of the first world war. Now the Muslim world is fractured, frightened, and has lost nearly all of its great tradition of knowledge and culture to fundamentalism, oppression, and greed. This is a sad thought, however, seeing as it took a plague and a Renaissance before we finally grew out of our dark times. What could possibly bring Islam out of its?

I agree up to a point but have to restate that its not a religious thing but more one of history, almost all former colonies go trough periods of huge social unrest becouse the very fabric of what kept those countries whole is disturbed almost overnight and goin from oppresion to self rule or puppet rule changes the dynamics of continuity and life.