Via Matthew Yglesias, the Oxbloggers pass along an appeal for donations to purchase urgently needed supplies and equipment for a hospital in Beslan. Especially for our readers in the UK, this is an opportunity for positive action.
Full text below the fold.

Read more… or [...]

Beslan looks to shake Russia in a way that the Nord-Ost siege did not, in a way that the subway and concert and bus stop bombings did not, and in a way that the plane bombings would not have. But before I speculate on any of those things, I want to lay down a marker, [...]

Just got back from a week in Russia, which was interesting timing indeed. A bomb at the Riga train station the day I arrived. The battle and massacre in Beslan just days before I left.
I’ll have more to say tomorrow, but I wanted to ask if anyone among our readers can find a link to [...]

About an hour and a half ago from the look of it.
The assault did not appear to be planned, but rather began with scattered fire that quickly erupted to a crescendo, punctuated by more blasts. Dozens of hostages — many barely dressed, their faces strained with fear and exhaustion - survived the assault, but [...]

Remarkable.
The comments by Jose Maria Aznar broadcast on Friday indicated the government knew on the morning before March 14 elections police were starting to rule out the separatist group ETA, though that afternoon it said ETA was likely responsible.
I guess he figured the truth would come out anyway. I’m sure he would disapprove of my [...]

Earlier today three bombs exploded outside a police station in Athens. One policeman wass slightly injured.
They apperear certain the perpetrators are homegrown.

Bernard sent me this link from the New York Times with the suggestion that it might be of interest to AFOE readers. I am dutifully complying by posting. Unfortunately I fear the situation described may come much more as news in the US than it does to those of us here in Europe.
Luton: “In this [...]

One police officer and three suspected terrorists are dead after an explosion in Madrid. Reports are that the suspects set off an explosion as police closed on the building, as part of an operation in connection with the ongoing investigations into the March 11th bombs in Madrid.

Daniel Davies has the last word on Spanish “appeasement” of terrorists.

Both Chris Brooke and Matthew Turner have raised the suggestion that the Socialist victory in Spain may not have been caused by an actual swing in the electorate from the Popular Party (PP) to the Socialists (PSOE) after Thursday, but rather by the attacks in Madrid inspiring more people to go out and [...]