Beslan school hostages

[scottishlass]

The Russians stormed the school in Beslan ...
The police got under fire while trying to collect the dead inside the school yard and then hostaged children tried to escape. So OMON troops took a chance and stormed the school and got it under control.
It is suspected that the terrorists escaped either into adjouning houses and by car as they took the clothes of the hostages.

At the moment there are no figures how many of the 800 to 1500 teachers and students are dead.

What I can't understand is why ppl can do something like that. There are women among the terrorists - the so-called black widows - and how they can just take children hostage is beyond me. I mean I'm not mother material but I have this urge to protect little ones, like almost any other human being.
And on top of it all the kids will be traumatized for life. Unlike as in other countries, in Russia the first day of school after the summer break is a day of happiness, and laughter and partying. Primers will be accompanied by the whole family (the parents mostly take a day off so they can accompany their children) and there is a lot of fun involved. They get sweets and little presents and then are welcomed into their first year at school. It's a big day of transition for the first schoolers.
What a drama they had to face :-(

Comments

[koellegirl.livejournal.com]

I just heard the news as well. I agree with you, it is totally beyond me, what humans can do to other humans. And by now they should know, that the russian government does not give in to terrorists. The agony of the families is not imaginable. I only hope, that as many ppl as possible have survived.

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

I hope so too. Though the more hours pass by now, the death toll goes up :-(

Though the whole thing, as well as the hostage and siege at the musical North-East two years ago, leads up to another discussion whether or not a state or nation should be taken hostage by a handful. Germany already was in this kind of state with the Schleyer kidnapping in the late 70's, and now Russia is as well.
I don't know how I feel about it. Of course a state or nation cannot be held hostage, ever. If a government would give in to this, anarchy would soon rule and the nation would be an easy prey to any other terrorist forces.
Chancellor Schmidt didn't do it in Somalia with the hijacked German plane and Putin doesn't do it with the Tchechians.

[koellegirl.livejournal.com]

I feel with the relatives. If it were my child/husband/father etc. in the hands of the terrorists, I would propably go grazy with worry. But for a government there is no other way, than to stay strong and fight those people. It is just so sad, that terrorists think they could change anything for the better, with taking people hostage. But then, I sometimes wonder, if changing things is really there goal. Seeing that there is obviously a kind of terrorist tourism, they probably just want to cause mayhem.
Sometimes life sucks!!

[elfnut.livejournal.com]

I saw the images in the early news. I still can't understand how ANYBODY can take innocent hostages.

Why were they naked? I must confess that I avoided reading the news (though I knew of the assault on the school) as to not get even further depressed than I already am ...

Even though these events make my faith in humankind waver, I will not give up hope that somehow we will be able to get rid of terrorism: no terrorist act for whatever noble cause can be forgiven or accepted.

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

terrorism is never about noble things.

The kids were naked because a) the gymnasium was so hot and b) they had to strip to show the kidnappers they didn't hide any cell phones.

[queenbubbles.livejournal.com]

As a school teacher and having been in a possible threatening situation with my students, it is a horrific thing to happen and it never leaves a child's mind. We are lucky enough at my school to have a procedure we follow to keep the kids safe, but nothing reassures them when they know they are in a lockdown. Even the drills freak them out, especially my little ones. I can only pray that something like this never happens to us. And no tornadoes either...we really didn't like having to do that either.

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

I hope so too ... as it is now the terrorists already prepared the school with hidden explosive devices during the summer break. :-(