A group of about 30 gunmen has seized a school in North Ossetia with up to 400 children, Russia’s internal republic bordering war-torn the Chechen Republic and the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia. (01-SEP-04)
A group of rebels stormed into the school building in the town of Beslan at around 8 o´clock on Wednesday morning shortly after a ceremony to mark the start of the new school year in the Russian Federation.
The gunmen ordered the children and staff into the school’s gymnasium. There are fatalities among the teachers. Some of the children have contacted parents via their mobile telephones.
Local police reported that women and men wearing belts of explosives were among the attackers. So far they have not put forward any demands and their motives remain unclear. Local law enforcers have arrived at the scene. They will try to establish contact with the rebels.
A gun battle has broken out with police near the school building. The agency said that gunmen may also have attacked a second school in the region.
Itar-Tass news agency gave the number of children seized in the school as about 200.
