Publication

The most frequent series of terrorist attacks in Russia until now, which took place between August 24 and September 1, 2004 and left 430 dead, represents a new dimension of violence. The hostage-taking of children in Beslan in North Ossetia taught several new lessons: terrorist violence has crossed a new line with regard to the "softness" of the attack's targets, the overall instability in the North Caucasus and the possibility of a far-reaching hardening of Russia in reaction to the perceived threats.