Changes

The [[people]] of Beslan are mostly [[Christian]] and this is why they were targeted.<ref>[http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/november/1.19.html ''Praying for Terrorists''] November 2004 [[Christianity Today]]. Accessed 5 March 2008</ref> The terrorists began by executing male teachers; female teachers were raped, tortured and taunted for being Christian.  Pupils, both female and male, were forced to strip to their underwear; many of the children were raped by fanatical [[jihad]]ists who recorded the rapes on video. An 18 Month old baby was knifed to death by one of the Muslim terrorists.<ref>[http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/tm_objectid=14605550&method=full&siteid=106694&headline=they-knifed-babies--they-raped-girls-name_page.html ''Beslan: They knifed babies, they raped girls''] 5 September 2004 Sunday Mirror. Accessed 5 March 2008</ref>

The [[people]] of Beslan are mostly [[Christian]] and this is why they were targeted.<ref>[http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/november/1.19.html ''Praying for Terrorists''] November 2004 [[Christianity Today]]. Accessed 5 March 2008</ref> The terrorists began by executing male teachers; female teachers were raped, tortured and taunted for being Christian.  Pupils, both female and male, were forced to strip to their underwear; many of the children were raped by fanatical [[jihad]]ists who recorded the rapes on video. An 18 Month old baby was knifed to death by one of the Muslim terrorists.<ref>[http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/tm_objectid=14605550&method=full&siteid=106694&headline=they-knifed-babies--they-raped-girls-name_page.html ''Beslan: They knifed babies, they raped girls''] 5 September 2004 Sunday Mirror. Accessed 5 March 2008</ref>

On September 4, possibly accidentally, a battle erupted between Russian [[Spetznaz]] forces and the terrorists. More than 330 civilians died, including 186 children.  Many of the children were shot in the back by the terrorists.  The Chechen terrorist [[Shamil Basayev]], who was trained in [[Afghanistan]] by the [[Taliban]] and [[Pakistan]]i [[Inter-Services Intelligence|ISI]] claimed responsibility for the attack, which ranks as one of the worst terrorist outrages in history. Basayev was later killed by Russian [[Spetsnaz]] forces.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5165456.stm ''Chechen rebel chief Basayev dies''] 10 July 2006 [[BBC|BBC News]]. Accessed 5 March 2008.</ref>

On September 4, possibly accidentally, a battle erupted between Russian [[Spetsnaz]] forces and the terrorists. More than 330 civilians died, including 186 children.  Many of the children were shot in the back by the terrorists.  The Chechen terrorist [[Shamil Basayev]], who was trained in [[Afghanistan]] by the [[Taliban]] and [[Pakistan]]i [[Inter-Services Intelligence|ISI]] claimed responsibility for the attack, which ranks as one of the worst terrorist outrages in history. Basayev was later killed by Russian [[Spetsnaz]] forces.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5165456.stm ''Chechen rebel chief Basayev dies''] 10 July 2006 [[BBC|BBC News]]. Accessed 5 March 2008.</ref>

From the trial:<ref>Peter Finn, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2006/12/23/beslan-massacre-probe-defends-russian-forces/4d822cde-6206-4c37-bdce-6ca1139e3f6a/ Beslan Massacre Probe Defends Russian Forces] ''The Washington Post'', December 23, 2006.

From the trial:<ref>Peter Finn, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2006/12/23/beslan-massacre-probe-defends-russian-forces/4d822cde-6206-4c37-bdce-6ca1139e3f6a/ Beslan Massacre Probe Defends Russian Forces] ''The Washington Post'', December 23, 2006.