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Inside The Terror: Beslan's School No. 1, 15 Years After The Hostage Crisis


Fifteen years ago, on September 3, 2004, Russian security forces began an armed assault on School No. 1 in Beslan, North Ossetia to attempt to release some 1,128 students, parents, and school employees taken hostage two days earlier by militants. Having refused to negotiate, the government targeted the school with grenade launchers, machine guns, tanks, and other pieces of military equipment.

Overall, 334 hostages, including 186 children, died in the school, where they had been taken hostage on September 1, the first day of the academic year. The terrorists already had executed some parents and teachers; others died during the special forces’ assault – a barrage that the European Court of Human Rights later deemed excessive.

All of the hostage-takers were killed except for one man, Nurpashi Kulayev, who was captured alive and sentenced to life in prison in 2006.

Within a few weeks, Chechen militia leader Shamil Basayev claimed responsibility for the attack. In an online letter, he blamed Russian forces for “the terrible tragedy” at Beslan and stated that he had offered the release of the hostages in exchange for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Chechnya and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s own resignation.

Basayev was killed in a 2006 explosion attributed to Russia’s Federal Security Service.
Most of the hostages spent the first two days of their 52 hours in captivity in the school’s gymnasium. It is now a memorial.
1 Most of the hostages spent the first two days of their 52 hours in captivity in the school’s gymnasium. It is now a memorial.
School No. 1 taught students between the ages of 6 and 17. Its official ceremony to start the school year began at 9 a.m. on September 1, 2004. Within several minutes, armed men in camouflage had burst into the school’s courtyard.
2 School No. 1 taught students between the ages of 6 and 17. Its official ceremony to start the school year began at 9 a.m. on September 1, 2004. Within several minutes, armed men in camouflage had burst into the school’s courtyard.
The gymnasium of School No. 1. For 15 years, Beslan residents debated what to do about a planned memorial for the school. “[A]s a result, everything is collapsing,” said schoolteacher Nadezhda Guriyeva.
3 The gymnasium of School No. 1. For 15 years, Beslan residents debated what to do about a planned memorial for the school. “[A]s a result, everything is collapsing,” said schoolteacher Nadezhda Guriyeva.
In memory of the children who died, small toys and water bottles are brought to the school. Both water and food were denied to the hostages, making thirst a stronger fear than gunshots,  recounted Yelena Ganiyeva, the school’s then vice-principal. “Nothing can be scarier than that for a person. My son today is already 24 years old and a water container stands by the side of his bed. “
4 In memory of the children who died, small toys and water bottles are brought to the school. Both water and food were denied to the hostages, making thirst a stronger fear than gunshots,  recounted Yelena Ganiyeva, the school’s then vice-principal. “Nothing can be scarier than that for a person. My son today is already 24 years old and a water container stands by the side of his bed. “
Doors leading into one of the offices at School No. 1. Former student Kombalat Bayev, 24, remembers that Vice-Principal Ganiyeva on the first day of the siege, September 1, forbade the children to drink anything. “She said, ‘Take [the liquid] in your mouth, rinse it out, but don’t swallow it because later the thirst will be stronger.’" The militants started taking the children to use the toilet in the locker room only the next day.  "And there, while the terrorists weren’t there, we managed somehow to drink water out of the tap," Bayev said. "Then, they found out about this and quit letting us go [to the bathroom]. As a result, we went into the school building, just in various offices – the boys into one, the girls into another. " On September 3, the last day of the crisis, "no one was giving us water.," he said. "We were eating the flowers.“
5 Doors leading into one of the offices at School No. 1.

Former student Kombalat Bayev, 24, remembers that Vice-Principal Ganiyeva on the first day of the siege, September 1, forbade the children to drink anything. “She said, ‘Take [the liquid] in your mouth, rinse it out, but don’t swallow it because later the thirst will be stronger.’"

The militants started taking the children to use the toilet in the locker room only the next day.  "And there, while the terrorists weren’t there, we managed somehow to drink water out of the tap," Bayev said. "Then, they found out about this and quit letting us go [to the bathroom]. As a result, we went into the school building, just in various offices – the boys into one, the girls into another. "

On September 3, the last day of the crisis, "no one was giving us water.," he said. "We were eating the flowers.“
“Children are the brightest thing on earth!” reads a message on the school walls. Quite young children, who today remember nothing about the terrorist attack, were also among the hostages. “I went with my grandmother and mother to my sister’s first day of school, and was left all alone," said Astimir Kundukhov, who was taken hostage at the age of two.
6 “Children are the brightest thing on earth!” reads a message on the school walls. Quite young children, who today remember nothing about the terrorist attack, were also among the hostages. “I went with my grandmother and mother to my sister’s first day of school, and was left all alone," said Astimir Kundukhov, who was taken hostage at the age of two.
School No. 1’s assembly hall. After special forces began storming the school, the terrorists moved all the hostages who had not escaped and were still alive into the assembly hall and cafeteria.
7 School No. 1’s assembly hall. After special forces began storming the school, the terrorists moved all the hostages who had not escaped and were still alive into the assembly hall and cafeteria.
A corridor in School No. 1. Writing on the left wall declares "We remember!" and "We grieve." 
8 A corridor in School No. 1. Writing on the left wall declares "We remember!" and "We grieve." 
School No. 1’s cafeteria, where hostages were kept when Russian special forces started storming the building. History teacher Nadezhda Guriyeva’s son and daughter, Boris and Vera, died during that operation. The children were taken to a morgue in Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia’s principal town, on September 4 for identification.  They were buried in closed coffins.  “Verochka was very badly burned. Boris not so much; only half of his body,” remembered Guriyeva. Vera was identified by "the remains of her panties and her ball gown …" she said. "That's all there was."   
9 School No. 1’s cafeteria, where hostages were kept when Russian special forces started storming the building. History teacher Nadezhda Guriyeva’s son and daughter, Boris and Vera, died during that operation.

The children were taken to a morgue in Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia’s principal town, on September 4 for identification.  They were buried in closed coffins. 

“Verochka was very badly burned. Boris not so much; only half of his body,” remembered Guriyeva. Vera was identified by "the remains of her panties and her ball gown …" she said. "That's all there was." 
 
Susanna Dudiyeva’s son, Zaur, died when special forces stormed the school. She considers them responsible for his death as well as the terrorists. “It’s understood that the terrorists are guilty. They’re not humans,” she said. “I think that the responsibility should be divided, and I think that the head of state should have demanded more of the federal structures, but we didn’t see this.”
10 Susanna Dudiyeva’s son, Zaur, died when special forces stormed the school. She considers them responsible for his death as well as the terrorists. “It’s understood that the terrorists are guilty. They’re not humans,” she said. “I think that the responsibility should be divided, and I think that the head of state should have demanded more of the federal structures, but we didn’t see this.”
Bulldozers came to tear down School No. 1 a few months after the hostages' burial. Mothers of the slain children came to defend the site.  Later, the boiler room, workshops, and the elementary-school building were dismantled during construction of the memorial complex.  In their place, construction of a Russian Orthodox church began in 2012. Icon painters promise that all of those killed in School No.1 will be depicted on its walls.  
11 Bulldozers came to tear down School No. 1 a few months after the hostages' burial. Mothers of the slain children came to defend the site. 

Later, the boiler room, workshops, and the elementary-school building were dismantled during construction of the memorial complex. 

In their place, construction of a Russian Orthodox church began in 2012. Icon painters promise that all of those killed in School No.1 will be depicted on its walls.
 
In 2014, a domed memorial opened on the site of School No. 1’s gymnasium. A new school was built across the road, but, 15 years later, its name still does not include a number, the usual way of identifying Russian public schools. Whether or not the new building should be called School No.1 is an ongoing debate among Beslan survivors.  
12 In 2014, a domed memorial opened on the site of School No. 1’s gymnasium. A new school was built across the road, but, 15 years later, its name still does not include a number, the usual way of identifying Russian public schools. Whether or not the new building should be called School No.1 is an ongoing debate among Beslan survivors.  
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