Russia to turn school into memorial

The school in Beslan where over 338 people, mostly children, died as a result of the hostage crisis would be turned into a memorial. A new school “will be built,” North Ossetian government spokesman Lev Dzugayev said.

After clearing the building of mines and booby traps planted by the terrorists, it was opened on Sunday for the relatives to pay homage to their loved ones. Families of the hostages placed flowers and plastic water bottles on the floor of the school gym, where the hostages were kept without water, forcing many to drink their own urine to quench their thirst.

The state-run Rossia TV channel reported that the terrorists had executed 22 captives in the first two days of the siege. The channel showed a first floor classroom with one of its walls bearing bullet marks.

“Here they shot 22 people in the first two days and their bodies were thrown out of the window,” Deputy Prosecutor General Sergei Fridinsky said. — (Agencies)