Beslan school hostage crisis

2004 terrorist attack in North Ossetia, Russian Federation

The Beslan school hostage crisis began when a group of armed muslim terrorists, demanding an end to the Second Chechen War, took more than 1,100 people (including some 777 children) hostage on September 1, 2004 at a school in the town of Beslan, North Ossetia-Alania. On the third day of the standoff, Russian security forces stormed the building using tanks, thermobaric rockets and other heavy weapons. A fire engulfed the building and a chaotic gun battle ensued. At least 334 hostages were killed, including 186 children, and hundreds more were wounded or reported missing.

Multinational bodies

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  •   UN Security Council – The UN Security Council in a Presidential Statement condemned the attack in the strongest terms and urged states actively to cooperate with the Russian authorities in efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.[2]
  •   European UnionRomano Prodi on behalf of the European Commission responded by calling the attack a: Killing of these innocent people is an evil, despicable act of barbarism."[3] and Dutch Foreign Minister Ben Bot on behalf of the European Union stated that "We have been confronted with a deep human tragedy [...] Beslan shows once again that we have to do everything in our power to confront terrorism."[4]
  •   UNESCO – Director-General Koichiro Matsuura of UNESCO – I am appalled that a school and its pupils are being used for political end and further that Schools are where children learn to live together. The safety of schools must never be threatened. I condemn these actions in the strongest possible terms.[5]

International

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Africa

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  •   South Africa - Nelson Mandela called the attack an "inhumane and barbaric act of terrorism”, saying that "in no way can the victimisation and killing of innocent children be justified in any circumstances, and especially not for political reasons".[6]

Americas

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Europe

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  •   Italy - The Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi responded saying ""The international community has to unite against terrorism that denies common human values to all the world's civilizations [...] There is no reason that could justify such inhuman violence."[9]
  •   France - French Foreign Ministry, in a statement concluded that "Everyone must mobilise in the fight against terrorism'"'[11]

Middle East

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  •   Jordan - Government spokesman Asma Khader "condemns such acts, especially the kidnapping of civilians and to scare them in such a heinous way, even more, when most are children" saying "no cause can be achieved by such criminal means."[12][13]
  •   Israel - The Israeli government offered help in rehabilitating freed hostages. Immediately after, an experienced Israeli trauma team was sent to Beslan and later Russian psychologists working with the victims of the massacre received help on training by Israeli experts in Israel.[citation needed]

Religious leaders

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  • What is the guilt of those children. Why should they be responsible for your conflict with the government. You are taking Islam as a cover and it is a deceptive cover; those who carry out the kidnappings are criminals, not Muslims.

NGO's

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  • A group of international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, condemned it as an “abhorrent [...] action” and a “displays [of] callous disregard for civilian life" and further that it was “an attack on the most fundamental right - the right to life; our organizations denounce this act unreservedly."[17]

References

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  1. Russian school attack: Need for world action on terror. UN (September 2004). Retrieved on 2006-08-11.
  2. U.N. Security Council, in Presidential statement, condems hostage-taking at Russian Federation school, demands their immediate release September 1, 2004
  3. The Commission is shocked and saddened by the deaths of hostages in Russia. EU (September 3, 2004). Retrieved on 2006-08-11.
  4. World Leaders Horrified at Russia Siege. Fox News (September 3, 2004). Retrieved on 2006-08-11.
  5. UNESCO Director-General calls for immediate release of hostages held in school siege. UNESCO (September 2, 2004). Retrieved on 2006-08-11.
  6. Timeline 2000s. Mandela Museum (September 4, 2004). Retrieved on 2006-08-01.
  7. President Speaks to the United Nations General Assembly. White House (September 21, 2004). Retrieved on 2006-08-11.
  8. President Addresses United Nations Security Council. White House (September 14, 2005). Retrieved on 2006-08-11.
  9. World Leaders Horrified at Russia Siege. Fox News (September 3, 2004). Retrieved on 2006-08-11.
  10. The voice of Russia September 4 2004
  11. World Leaders Horrified at Russia Siege. Fox News (September 3, 2004). Retrieved on 2006-08-11.
  12. World Leaders Horrified at Russia Siege. Fox News (September 3, 2004). Retrieved on 2006-08-11.
  13. Arab leaders decry school killings. Al Jazeera (September 4, 2004). Retrieved on 2006-08-11.
  14. World Leaders Horrified at Russia Siege. Fox News (September 3, 2004). Retrieved on 2006-08-11.
  15. Arab leaders decry school killings. Al Jazeera (September 4, 2004). Retrieved on 2006-08-11.
  16. Muslim leaders condemn killers. The Guardian (September 4, 2004). Retrieved on 2006-08-11.
  17. Joint NGO statement on the Beslan Hostage Tragedy. Amnesty International (September 8, 2004). Archived from the original on 2006-06-30. Retrieved on 2006-08-11.
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