Video rekindles debate on Beslan school death toll

A video that remained secret for nearly three years after the horrific Beslan hostage crisis in Russia has cast new doubt on official conclusions about what led to the deaths of more than 330 people during one of Russia’s worst terror attacks.

The video and the material it shows is far from conclusive or definitive about one of the central questions to the September 1-3, 2004, attack – what caused the initial explosions that were followed by a chaotic gun battle and the collapse of the roof of School No. 1’s gymnasium where the more than 1,100 hostages were held.