Putin Visits Beslan Memorial Ahead of 20th Anniversary of 2004 Attack That Killed 334

Aug 20, 2024, 11:58 AM

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the North Ossetian city of Beslan, ahead of the 20th anniversary of the 2004 terrorist attack at School No. 1, where 334 people were killed, including 186 children. During his visit, Putin laid flowers at the 'Tree of Sorrow' and the 'City of Angels' memorial, which was created in memory of the victims. He also commemorated the special forces fighters killed during the siege. This visit marks a significant moment as it is one of the few times Putin has publicly acknowledged the tragedy since it occurred. The Beslan school siege remains the deadliest terrorist attack in modern Russian history, carried out by Islamist militants who took over 1,000 hostages.