**Beslan School Siege**

The **Beslan school siege** (also known as the **Beslan school hostage crisis**) was a terrorist attack that occurred from **September 1 to September 3, 2004**, at **School Number One (SNO)** in the town of **Beslan**, located in the republic of **North Ossetia–Alania**, **Russia**. The crisis involved the **hostage-taking of more than 1,100 people**, including **777 children**, by armed Islamist militants, mostly from **Chechnya and Ingushetia**, associated with the separatist movement in **Chechnya**.

### **Background**

The siege was part of the ongoing **Second Chechen War**, where separatist fighters opposed Russian control over Chechnya. The attackers, led by **Shamil Basayev**, sought to pressure the Russian government to withdraw from Chechnya and recognize its independence. They also demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops and an end to military operations in the region.

### **The Siege**

* On the **first day of school** (known in Russia as *Knowledge Day*), militants stormed the school during a ceremony, taking over **1,100 hostages**, including children, parents, and teachers.
* Hostages were herded into the school gymnasium, where they were denied food and water and were threatened with explosives wired throughout the building.
* Negotiations with Russian authorities were limited, and the situation grew increasingly tense over the three-day standoff.

### **Assault and Casualties**

On **September 3**, after explosions were heard inside the school, Russian security forces stormed the building using tanks, heavy weapons, and special forces. The assault led to chaotic fighting and the eventual collapse of the roof in the gymnasium, where most of the hostages were held.

* **334 people died**, including **186 children**.
* More than **800 were injured**.
* Many hostages were killed during the initial explosions, the firefight, or due to the collapse of the structure.

### **Aftermath and Controversy**

The Beslan siege shocked the world and led to widespread mourning in Russia. However, the Russian government’s **handling of the crisis drew heavy criticism**, including:

* The use of **excessive force** during the rescue operation.
* **Lack of transparency**, with officials initially downplaying the number of hostages and the nature of the attackers.
* Accusations of a **cover-up** and suppression of independent investigations.

Russian President **Vladimir Putin** later used the crisis to justify sweeping **anti-terrorism measures** and **centralization of power**, including the abolition of direct elections for regional governors.

### **Legacy**

The Beslan school siege remains one of the **deadliest terrorist attacks in Russian and global history**. It highlighted the brutality of the Chechen conflict and led to a significant shift in Russian domestic and counter-terrorism policy. It is remembered annually in Beslan and across Russia with memorials and commemorations for the victims.