BESLAN, Russia, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- The terrorists who killed more than 150 people and injured at least 456 in a southern Russian school include 10 Arabs, Itar-Tass reported Friday.
Aslambek Aslakhanov, an adviser to President Vladimir Putin, said the gunmen were of different nationalities, but 10 of them were from Arab countries and one was from an African nation.
They are suspected of gaining entrance into Beslan with a truck hijacked in the Mozdok region of North Ossetia last month.
In addition, Russian intelligence sources have identified Shamil Basayev as the attack's mastermind and Magomet Yevloyev as the field commander of the hostage crisis that began Wednesday.
They are believed to have been funded by Wahabist Muslim leader Abu Omar al-Seif, al-Qaida's liaison in Chechnya and the manager of the group's foreign funds.
