[iceskater]

Isn't this like one of the scenarios in the AQ training manuals that were found? I thought I remembered hearing about scenarios where the AQ planned to take groups hostage with no intention of letting them go. There was even discussion of decapitations and the like.

This sounds really bad.

[laconic]

Yes, this is exactly out of the AlQaeda playbook. Take over a building, round up the hostages, get the press there and then blow up everything while on TV. The Chechens have been among AlQaeda's biggest supporters; scum "Dr." Zawahiri was there and it has been rumored that bin Laden is hiding out there. A thoroughly bad bunch.