AFP: 10 Arabs among 20 militants killed (in Russian attack)

[allemand]

Just reported on BBC World.

So it was Al Qaeda again?

[sofa king]

1. Pravda better hope it wasn't al Qaeda.

Seeing as just the other day they claimed that al Qaeda doesn't exist.

http://english.pravda.ru/mailbox/22/101/397/13821_AlQaeda.html

(Edit: Well, okay, it's just one guy's opinion in Pravda. But the horrific confluence of events certainly gives me pause.)

[UpInArms]

2. Arabs?

guess they need go attach Chechnya and reduce it to Afghanistan-styled rubble :sigh:

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/9566941.htm

Russians Storm School; 100 Bodies Found

BESLAN, Russia - Commandos stormed a school Friday in southern Russia and battled separatist rebels holding hundreds of hostages, as crying children, some naked and covered in blood, fled through explosions and gunfire. More than 100 bodies were reportedly found in the gymnasium where hostages had been held.

The extent of the casualties was not immediately known. The militants, who had been demanding independence for nearby Chechnya, had been keeping up to 1,500 hostages - mostly women and children - in the sweltering gymnasium for more than two days.

<snip>

The hostage takers' identities were murky. Lev Dzugayev, a North Ossetian official, said the attackers might be from Chechnya or Ingushetia. Law enforcement sources in North Ossetia and Ingushetia, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the attackers were believed to include Chechens, Ingush, Russians and a North Ossetian suspected of participating in the Ingushetia violence.

...more...

[One_Life_To_Give]

3. Wouldn't be surprised.

Wouldn't be surprised. Had heard the CHechans were training in Afganistan back when the Taliban was still in control.

[phasev]

4. source please? n/t

[russian33]

5. From a Russian site:

(translating) "Terrorists were shooting kids in their backs, informs Aslambek Aslahanov. At the moment when the rescue group was removing bodies of dead hostages, there was an explosion in the school, that set off a series of explosions. Kids started running, and the captors starting shooting them in the back, and hitting some with rifles, who were trying to escape. No one was ready for that, said Aslahanov. We were conducting negotiations, to resolve this peacefully".

http://www.voina.ru/

[allemand]

6. Maybe this is the source

Infamous Chechen Rebel Leader Masterminded School Seige — report

Created: 03.09.2004 19:27 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 19:29 MSK,
MosNews

Leader of Chechen separatists, Shamil Bassayev, was a mastermind of the school siege in the North Ossetian town of Beslan, ITAR-TASS news agency reported quoting spokesmen of Southern Federal District secret service.

The operation was organized by Bassayev’s subordinate, Magomet Yevloyev. He is also suspected of having organized the attack in Ingushetia in June.

<...>

The operations headquarters in Beslan stressed that the group that seized the school was multinational. Most of the gunmen already killed were born in the Arab countries. Suicide bombers were trained by the Al Qaida specialists, the agency quoted the secret service as saying.

http://www.mosnews.com/news/2004/09/03/bassayev.shtml

[prodigal_green]

7. la la la la la I can't hear you...

We're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer we're safer

[allemand]

8. FSB Says Half of Killed Beslan Terrorists Were Arabs

Created: 03.09.2004 19:41 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 19:47 MSK
MosNews

FSB North Ossetian chief Valery Andreyev says that twenty hostage-takers have been killed in Beslan; ten of them turned out to have come to Russia from Arab countries, RIA Novosti reported.

Aslambek Aslakhanov, advisor to the Russian president, quoted a different figure, saying only nine were Arabs, RIA Novosti writes.

Overall, the group of hostage-takers was mixed; some reports list Chechens, Ossetians, and Russians among the terrorists.

More:
http://www.mosnews.com/news/2004/09/03/arabs.shtml

FSB, well... It would be nice to have independent confirmation.

[Swamp Rat]

9. dupe

[allemand]

10. Operation funded by Al Qaeda?

(Sorry, only link to Moonie Times yet, but report is ITAR-TASS)

Arabs predominate in Beslan attack

<...>

Aslambek Aslakhanov, an adviser to President Vladimir Putin, said the gunmen were of different nationalities, but nine of them were from Arab countries.

They are suspected of gaining entrance into Beslan with a truck hijacked in the Mozdok region of North Ossetia last month.

<...>

They are believed to have been funded by Wahabist Muslim leader Abu Omar al-Seif, al-Qaida's liaison in Chechnya and the manager of the group's foreign funds.

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040903-115706-1812r.htm