Beslan boys enjoying life in Shropshire
Shropshire is proving to be a big change for Russian youngsters who were taken hostage and who lost friends in three-day school siege.
Shropshire is proving to be a big change for Russian youngsters who were taken hostage and who lost friends in three-day school siege.
Aslan Aliev and Soslan Persaev, 16 and 15 respectively, don't talk about it. Words cannot describe the horror their young eyes have seen.
The pair have been summoned to the headmaster's office at Wrekin College, but far from being in the deep dark stuff, they are here to talk about their success stories. If they can be described as such.
Six years ago they were enjoying another ordinary day at the Beslan School in Russia when their lives were turned upside down.
On September 1, 2004, a group of armed mostly Ingush and Chechen militants took more than 1,100 people including 777 children hostage in the town of Beslan, North Ossetia, in the North Caucasus region of the Russian Federation.
The siege lasted three days. Some 334 hostages were killed, including 186 children. Hundreds more were injured and many were reported missing.
The hostage taking was carried out by the Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs group led by the Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev, which issued a demand for an end to the Second Chechen War. On the third day of the standoff, Russian security forces stormed the building, using tanks, thermobaric rockets, and other heavy weapons. A series of explosions shook the school, followed by a fire which engulfed the building and a chaotic gunbattle between the hostage-takers and Russian security forces, resulting in carnage.
Both Aslan and Soslan were at the school and witnessed the dreadful scenes of a story that rocked the world.
Both were taken to the gymnasium by the hostage-takers. Both lost school friends in the tragedy.
Understandably they don't speak much about their experiences publicly. And one can only imagine their thoughts on the terror attack."It was scary," says Aslan.
"I don't know, I cannot describe it, it's difficult. Sometimes you think about it. I don't think I will ever forget it."
It is to the boys' credit that they have been able to carry on with their lives and find success with their studies. Part of that success must be attributed to Shropshire teacher Steve Bayliss who over the past few years has worked tirelessly to bring children from the Beslan School to the county to experience life here.
Aslan came to Wrekin College in 2007, initially for a few weeks. But he got on so well that he's still here today.
"I came originally for one term but it happened that I stayed for a year and then longer. I could be here for three years. Maybe because I'm okay with my studying."
Aslan is currently working towards his GCSEs and could be staying on further. His stay is beyond expectations and teachers have been delighted with his progress.
Aslan smiles a lot and is extremely polite. It is humbling to sit in his presence. His geographical knowledge isn't bad either.
Many people from the UK, never mind overseas, have never heard of Shropshire. Ask some people where the county is and there's a good chance you might get the answer: "Is it somewhere near Wales?"
Not Aslan.
"I think I had heard of Shropshire," he says.
"History is one of my hobbies and I knew a bit about the states, or counties, of England. I knew it was beautiful and I knew a bit about the Industrial Revolution, and that's it.
"And it's a very nice place – especially in summer."
He was, however, taken aback at how it different the relief was from that of his own home town.
"I was surprised at how flat it is," says Aslan.
It's very different. North Ossetia is quite mountainous.
"Here – if you look at the horizon you don't see anything. It just keeps going. You look at the horizon at home and you see mountains."
But the school has made the pair very welcome and they have fitted in very easily.
"I have made a lot of friends and I am enjoying myself," he adds with a customary smile.
His friend Soslan is quieter, perhaps because his English is not as strong as his friend's. On the other hand, he has been in the county for only a matter of weeks, but says he is thoroughly enjoying his stay in Shropshire.
But the scars on his arms, sustained during an explosion during the Beslan School siege, are lasting reminders of three days that could take a lifetime to recover from and speak volumes about the horrors of those few days in their home town six years ago.
Currently Soslan is studying at the Charlton school in Wellington, again visiting thanks to cash raised by Steve Bayliss of the Academy of English in Telford.
He says of his time here: "It is very different and sometimes it's very difficult. People are very different but very friendly, and hopefully I will learn better English.
"Coming here has been a very good experience."