Russian special forces have apparently stormed the school in N. Ossetia where terrorists were holding hundreds of hostages. The widely-cited Interfax news agency is posting updates every few minutes.
Russian special forces have control of most of the school where hundreds of hostages have been held by gunmen for two days, the crisis headquarters told Interfax.Shooting around the school is calming down, an Interfax correspondent reports. Special troops are in the building. Several hostage-takers who escaped from the building are trying to flee. Some of them are shooting sporadically.
NTV television reported that several rebels wearing civilian clothes are trying to disappear in Beslan's residential areas.
NTV said special forces are combing residential areas in search for terrorists.
UPDATE: Interfax reports very heavy casualties.
Some 350 wounded hostages and locals have been hospitalized in Beslan and Vladikavkaz, the North Ossetian Health Ministry told Interfax. The number of casualties is currently being determined, the operative headquarters in charge of the rescue operation told Interfax. In addition, a source in the law enforcement structures said some members of the special task forces taking part in the rescue operation had been killed.
NPR reporter at the scene reported wounded children, burned and limbless.
Belmont Club is in anguish, for the children and for us all.
I am looking at the future or maybe a future in the offing. But nothing is written. Nothing is written. Swear then by all the children you could not save that the next dead little one will not be yours. Wrong. Swear then that you will defeat them whatever it takes and into whatever hell you must go.
InstaPundit sums it up:
That could be happening here, and sooner or later it will if we don't win this war first.
UPDATE: Blogs of War has more, including info quoted from Chechen insurgents and their Islamofascist allies.
Posted by Alan at September 3, 2004 05:49 AM