On October 25, 2004, a group of armed Chechen militants took more than 1,100 people hostage at a school in Beslan, Russia. The siege lasted for three days and ended in violence, with over 300 people killed, including 186 children. The rescue operation, which involved Russian forces, was chaotic and poorly coordinated, leading to even greater casualties. The incident shocked the world and brought attention to the issue of separatist movements and terrorism in the region.