MOSCOW, October 13 (RIA Novosti) - The Beslan school terrorists of September 1-3 are looming behind other heinous acts in Russia-suffice it to mention a McDonalds' blast in Moscow, November 2002, and a night attack on government agencies of last June in Ingushetia, which borders on Chechnya. Nikolai Shepel, Deputy Prosecutor General for federal district South, said so to the Rossia television company, national Channel Two, late this afternoon.
"Shamil Basayev and Aslan Maskhadov, Chechen separatist chieftains, were masterminding. Some people were arranging actual terror acts on their orders," said Mr. Shepel.
Seventeen of the terrorists who found their death in the Beslan tragedy have been identified for today. Nine of them were known for involvement in the June drama in Ingushetia.
Several police officers of Beslan's Right Bank District are suspected of criminal negligence. The prosecutor's experts are finishing evidence collection on their files. "There must be three or more culprits-one of them a detective." The number of functionaries to be criminally liable for the Beslan horror may increase quite soon, added Nikolai Shepel.
