It was the first day of school.
A group of armed Chechen separatists and Islamic fundamentalists took more than 1,200 schoolchildren and adults hostage at School Number One (SNO) in the town of Beslan, North Ossetia-Alania.
Little did the children and parents know what the next 56 hours would bring.
KC the Kat put together this beautiful tribute to the children of Beslan.
(Warning: This will break your heart)
Watching them take young girls away to be raped.
Forced to clean up the blood off the floors from the dead children and adults.
So hot you're forced to strip off your clothes.
Drinking urine to stay alive.
Dragging your younger brother through the halls.
Pulling his limp body through a broken window.
Guns, wires, and bombs.
The boy from Beslan...
One of the most striking images coming from the Beslan School gymnasium during the early hours after the siege was this shot of a terrified young Beslan boy sitting in the gymnasium where he was being held by the Chechen terrorists.
The attack ended Sept. 3 when Russian forces stormed the school after explosions were heard inside.
When the school blew up, one of the children was blown outside.
The child (pictured above) climbed back into the school to be with her teacher.
Shortly after that the roof collapsed.
More than half the hostages who died were children.
One of the 32 Islamic terrorists was a Saudi.
Lining up the dead children in Beslan.
On the first anniversary at School No. 1's gymnasium, where more than 1,100 people mostly children endured nearly three days of heat, thirst, hunger and fear, color photographs of the victims hang on bullet-scarred walls alongside faded graffiti begging victims' forgiveness.
Family and friends of those killed and injured joined former hostages at the charred, crumbling shell of School Number One, a year after the terrorist attack.
They brought flowers and candles to the sports hall where more than 1,300 people were held captive for three days and where armed extremists strung bombs from the basketball hoops. The gym is now papered with photographs of those who died there - children, teachers and parents and those killed trying to save them.
The BBC did a follow-up video on the terrified young Beslan boy one year after the tragedy- He was out riding his bike.
The trial for the lone surviving Beslan terrorist was held in 2005 in North Ossetia.
Grandparents of Boris Dzhibilov, 9, who was killed in the school hostage taking, cry at their grandson's gravestone at the cemetery in Beslan, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2005. (AP)
Today, again, the world prays for Beslan.
Previous Posts on Beslan:
Beslan Terrorist on Trial
Another Central Asian Leader Resigns
Beslan Terrorist Trial in Ossetia
Beslan Terrorists Planned More Attacks
Beslan-- World Children's Day
More Sad News from Beslan
Beslan Children Recall Their Horror in Court