15 years of the tragedy in Beslan
Today marks 15 years since the terrorist attack in Beslan. Military Review decided to recall the sequence of events that led to one of the worst tragedies in recent stories Russia.
15 years ago, on 1 on September 2004, a group of terrorists seized the N1 school in Beslan, taking more than 1128 people hostage. Most of the hostages were schoolchildren, their parents, or school staff. Also, the relatives of the schoolchildren brought many kids with them - in Beslan that day, 4 from the 9 local kindergartens did not work.
According to official figures, the attack was carried out by a group formed under the leadership of Aslan Maskhadov, Shamil Basayev and Abu Dzeyt. It included 34 people, two of whom were accomplices outside the school, and two suicide bombers. The detachment was led by a native of the Ingush village of Galashki, Ruslan Khuchbarov, who was nicknamed “Colonel” and was on the federal wanted list.
At the initial stage of the capture, the terrorists killed 2 people. In turn, a nearby police officer was able to destroy one of the militants, whose body was subsequently on the street for the entire period of the confrontation. Several other militants were also injured, including Wahhabi Vladimir Khodov, who was noted for great cruelty towards the hostages.
The captured people were moved to the gym, in which the explosive chain was mounted: it was supposed to prevent the assault. Explosive devices were mounted over the heads of the hostages.
- Terrorists declared (the spelling of the original is kept).
The militants were well armed. In addition to Kalashnikov assault rifles, some of which were with grenade launchers, the terrorists had at their disposal two RPK-74 light machine guns; one Kalashnikov machine gun tank; two PKM, RPG-7 and "Fly" grenade launchers.
On the very first day, for some unknown reason, one of the suicide bombers was blown up. The militant who was next to her was seriously injured, and some of the nearby hostages died. In addition, the militants shot several people. The number of dead civilians was 21 people.
Attempts to free the captured people were carried out during all three days. They were attracted by numerous officials. On the second day, the former president of Ingushetia, Ruslan Aushev, was sent to school - it was he who brought the 24 hostage, mothers from infants and toddlers to children. From the second day, the hostages were denied going to the toilet and stopped bringing water.
The climax came on the third day, at 13: 05. It was then that two explosions occurred in the gym, and the terrorists began to kill hostages and shoot at children trying to escape. Around the same time, it was decided to storm the school.
The battle lasted for several hours. The militants used tactics of “live shields” and trained firing points. Only by six in the evening were all the survivors evacuated, and the special forces of the Special Operations Center, including the Alpha and Vympel fighters, began the final cleaning of the building.
In total, 333 people died during the attack. 186 of them were children from one year to 17 years. The FSB special forces suffered the biggest lump-sum losses in their long history - 10 people. All the terrorists who were in the school, except for one, Nurpashi Kulaev, who is currently serving time in the Polar Owl colony, were destroyed.
15 years ago, on 1 on September 2004, a group of terrorists seized the N1 school in Beslan, taking more than 1128 people hostage. Most of the hostages were schoolchildren, their parents, or school staff. Also, the relatives of the schoolchildren brought many kids with them - in Beslan that day, 4 from the 9 local kindergartens did not work.
According to official figures, the attack was carried out by a group formed under the leadership of Aslan Maskhadov, Shamil Basayev and Abu Dzeyt. It included 34 people, two of whom were accomplices outside the school, and two suicide bombers. The detachment was led by a native of the Ingush village of Galashki, Ruslan Khuchbarov, who was nicknamed “Colonel” and was on the federal wanted list.
Ruslan Khuchbarov, Colonel
The killings started right away
At the initial stage of the capture, the terrorists killed 2 people. In turn, a nearby police officer was able to destroy one of the militants, whose body was subsequently on the street for the entire period of the confrontation. Several other militants were also injured, including Wahhabi Vladimir Khodov, who was noted for great cruelty towards the hostages.
The captured people were moved to the gym, in which the explosive chain was mounted: it was supposed to prevent the assault. Explosive devices were mounted over the heads of the hostages.
If they kill any of us, we will shoot 50 people, if they injure any of us, we will kill 20 people, If we kill 5 people, we will all blow up. If the lights turn off, communication for a minute, we will shoot 10 people.
- Terrorists declared (the spelling of the original is kept).
The militants were well armed. In addition to Kalashnikov assault rifles, some of which were with grenade launchers, the terrorists had at their disposal two RPK-74 light machine guns; one Kalashnikov machine gun tank; two PKM, RPG-7 and "Fly" grenade launchers.
Three days of horror
On the very first day, for some unknown reason, one of the suicide bombers was blown up. The militant who was next to her was seriously injured, and some of the nearby hostages died. In addition, the militants shot several people. The number of dead civilians was 21 people.
Attempts to free the captured people were carried out during all three days. They were attracted by numerous officials. On the second day, the former president of Ingushetia, Ruslan Aushev, was sent to school - it was he who brought the 24 hostage, mothers from infants and toddlers to children. From the second day, the hostages were denied going to the toilet and stopped bringing water.
on September 3
The climax came on the third day, at 13: 05. It was then that two explosions occurred in the gym, and the terrorists began to kill hostages and shoot at children trying to escape. Around the same time, it was decided to storm the school.
The battle lasted for several hours. The militants used tactics of “live shields” and trained firing points. Only by six in the evening were all the survivors evacuated, and the special forces of the Special Operations Center, including the Alpha and Vympel fighters, began the final cleaning of the building.
In total, 333 people died during the attack. 186 of them were children from one year to 17 years. The FSB special forces suffered the biggest lump-sum losses in their long history - 10 people. All the terrorists who were in the school, except for one, Nurpashi Kulaev, who is currently serving time in the Polar Owl colony, were destroyed.
Information