BESLAN, Russia (ABP) — At least eight children of Baptist leaders were among hundreds of hostages held in a Russian middle school that erupted in gunfire and flames Sept. 3.
The two-day standoff came to a climax when Russian commandos stormed the school. Russian authorities were removing the bodies of people killed at the beginning of the siege when explosions went off in the school complex, according to CNN. Many of the estimated 1,000 hostages fled, prompting a gun battle between police and the hostage-takers.
According to CNN, the battle killed 100-150 hostages and 20 hostage-takers, initially believed to be rebels from the breakaway province of Chechnya but who may also have included non-Russian Arabs. Some of the hostage-takers are believed to have escaped during the battle.
According to a Hungarian Baptist leader familiar with the situation, the hostages included three children of local Russian Baptist pastor Sergei Totjev and five children of church elder Tajmurat Totjev. As of Sept. 3, it was not known if they were among the children who escaped.
Half-naked children dashed out of the school in every direction, according to televised reports. Some were carried and helped by parents and adults. Many were bleeding. Many received medical treatment and food and water outside.
“We would like to ask and encourage the Baptist Family worldwide to pray for the Baptists in Beslan at this time of crisis,” said Hungarian Baptist Aid leaders, who were prepared to send food supplies into the school when the gun battle erupted.
The hostage incident began Sept. 1 when an armed gang took hundreds of children, parents and teachers hostage on the first day of school in Beslan, located in North Ossetia, near Chechnya, where rebels have been fighting Russia and demanding independence for that small republic.
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