The bloody shootout at the Russian school in Beslan where more than 150 children died was caused by a bomb going off accidentally, The Independent reported.
That was the summary of a Russian parliamentary inquiry led by Alexander Torshin, who said the frenzied shooting came after the explosion, which "was unexpected, both to the terrorists and to the people outside." He said the explosion on the third day of the siege was "the result of a blunder," when a bomb strung up in basketball hoops fell out.
Torshin, deputy chairman of Russia's upper house of parliament, said the hostage-takers then began firing on fleeing hostages in the belief that the Russians were storming the building, prompting the security forces to move in.
Making things worse, frantic parents also opened fire at the school as hostages scrambled to get out. Torshin admitted security forces failed to keep the armed townspeople at a safe distance.
The guerrillas were demanding the withdrawal of Russian forces from Chechnya. A total of 331 people were killed in the incident.
© Copyright 2004 by United Press International
