On September 1, 2004 armed Chechen rebels took approximately 1,200 children and adults hostage at a school in Beslan, North Ossetia, Russia, at approximately 9 a.m.
More than 330 people were killed, including 186 children, and more than 700 people wounded in the siege on September 3, 2004.
Two of the militants claimed to be women.
The siege took place on the first day of classes in Beslan.
The hostage takers reportedly wore suicide belts and bombs were strapped to the basketball goals in the gymnasium.
Local authorities get permission from hostage takers to remove bodies lying in front of the school that have been there since the siege began. A few minutes later, loud explosions are heard. Hostages start fleeing the building and are shot at. Militants start fleeing the building. The roof in the gymnasium, where hundreds of hostages are held, collapses, killing many.
Russian commandos take over the school and free many hostages, if he is able to do so at 2: 30 p.m.
Most of the hostages are reported to have been evacuated at 3: 17 p.m.
Half of the 330 hostages are children, and the siege ends with more than 330 dead. Local authorities have permission from hostage takers to remove bodies lying in front of the school that have been there since the siege began. A few minutes later, loud explosions are heard. Hostages start fleeing the building and are shot at. Militants start fleeing the building. The roof in the gymnasium, where hundreds of hostages are held, collapses, killing many. Russian commandos take over the school at 2: 30 p.m. Most of the hostages are reported to have been evacuated at 3: 17 p.m. Half of the 330 hostages are children, and the siege ends with more than 330 dead.
The trial begins on May 18, 2005, for the only person charged in the case, Nur-Pashi Kulayev. He was the only hostage taker captured alive.
May 16, 2006 - Kulayev was found guilty of terrorism and other charges in the first part of his verdict. He was sentenced on May 26 to life in prison.
December 22, 2006 - A Russian parliamentary commission releases a report on its investigation into the massacre. The report blames Chechen guerillas for the high death toll and exonerates Russian security forces. Some families denounce the report as a cover-up.
The European Court of Human Rights orders Russia to pay $3.2 million to the families of victims. The European Court of Human Rights ordered Russia to pay nearly 3 million euro 3.2 million to the families of victims. The court said Russian authorities failed to properly respond to the attack, and Russia had not done enough to prevent the attack, despite having sufficiently specific information of a planned terrorist attack in the area, linked to an educational institution. Russian news agency Interfax reports that Russia will abide by the European Court of Human Rights ruling to pay damages ordered by the court in April 2017 based on a statement from Russia's justice ministry.