[Dr. Eckleburg]

...the terrorists' only condition for releasing the children...

I don't believe that for a minute.

Six-year-olds were shot in the back.

[MarMema]

You are correct. Not only shot but when they ran out of ammon, they began grabbing them and stabbing them, according to one report. The intent was to kill all of the children, imo.

The North Ossetians are a small group of Christians with radical islam almost all around them. Chechen warlords, who run the country, want the entire Caucasus "returned" to Wahabi, according to them. Killing 1000 children of your only Christian neighbors is a good way to really reduce their population. I believe that was the goal.