Dear Readers,

October 23 - 26, 2006, marks the four year anniversary of the Chechen Rebels takeover of the Moscow Dubrovka House of Culture. From October 23 to 26, 2002, Chechen rebels held the Theater Center and 700 hostages. The rebels included 18 females dressed in black who wore black explosive belts and 32 males. The rebels had the highest percentage of women in the history of female suicide bombing when they held hostage the Theater Center. The seize ended when the Russian Special Forces, in a rescue effort, killed with gas 129 captives and 41 rebels. This attack marked the first time in the history of female suicide bombers that such a team was established and signaled a shift from an individual action to a group structure.

Last week Radio Free Europe interviewed me as the author of _Female Suicide Bombers_. This interview is part of Radio Free Europe’s coverage of the 4th anniversary of the hostage taking of the Moscow Dubrovka House of Culture.

If Radio Free Europe posts the transcript, I’ll send the link so that you can read more about this historic takeover. Radio Free Europe’s web site is located at http:f//rferl.org/.

R