The armed gang that seized the school in South Russian town of Beslan on September 1, planned to escape after the terrorist attack using hostages as a shield, former president of Ingushetia, Ruslan Aushev, said on Friday. Aushev took part in the negotiations with the terrorists. After the negotiations, over 20 hostages were set free. Over 300 people were killed after the school siege and an assault on September 3. The hostage-takers prepared a corridor to leave Beslan. "They told me other gangs were ready to help them in case of necessity," Interfax news agency quoted Aushev as saying. He added that the terrorists went out of the school building at night and scouted out the land. Aushev did not rule out that some of the rebels could escape having disappeared in the crowd.
| Great site security, there guys. Nice job of sealing the place off. |
Terrorists told Aushev they have taken account of Moscow theater siege in October 2002. For instance, they have broken the windows because they were afraid of gas that was used by Russian troops during the 2002 assault. "They behaved crueler than during Nord-Ost. For example, when the lights or telephone stopped working in the school, they shot hostages," former Ingush president said. He confirmed what he said earlier that all hostage-takers spoke Russian. He confirmed also that Russian troops did not prepare the assault and it started after the citizens opened fire and the terrorists responded. Aushev also confirmed that it was Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev who ordered the school siege. Zyazikov was one of the people the terrorists had demanded to talk with. But he did not go to Beslan. |