Description
Object description
British civilian held hostage by Chechen nationalists in Nord Ost Theatre, Moscow, 23-26/Oct/2002
Content description
REEL 1: Background in Romania and GB, 1946-2002: Jewish family origins in Romania and emigration to GB, 1950; education; employment with British Steel Corporation; marriage to Peter Low, 1974; experiences of family during Holocaust; story of first visit to Soviet Union, 1974; problem of restrictions and bugging; comparison of conditions in Russia in 1974 and 2002; story of son Richard studying Russian at Oxford.
REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of period in Moscow, 22-23/Oct/2002: description of flight to visit son in Moscow; first impressions and sightseeing, story of son obtaining tickets for hit musical at Nord Ost Theatre; taxi ride to theatre; problem of lack of eating facilities; description of café. Recollections of period as hostage in Nord Ost Theatre, Moscow, 23-26/Oct/2002: description of armed masked men entering theatre after interval; memory of leader Movsar Barayev shouting orders; arrival of female suicide bombers; husband and son made phone call to daughter in GB.
REEL 3 Continues: story of getting message to British Embassy in Moscow; all Muslims allowed to leave the theatre; passports checked and moved to front of theatre; woman negotiator took list of names for Red Cross; husband led out at gunpoint; story of daughter contacting Foreign Office and Red Cross; story of husband being released due to heart condition; reaction of son to hostage situation; sympathetic treatment received from Russian audience; distribution of Vallium tablets; increased level of threat from captors including placing of bomb in centre of auditorium.
REEL 4 Continues: story of Olga Romanova being shot dead; reaction to captors praying in front of banner with Arabic script on stage; question of not revealing Jewish identity; description of orchestra pit used as latrine; story of finding dead body in lavatory; strategy for coping with situation; inconsistent behaviour of captors and unstable character of leader Barayev; description of women suicide bombers; story of actor Mark Podlesny; story of Barayev threatening to shoot down ceiling; living conditions in theatre; story of suspected spy being beaten and shot.
REEL 5 Continues: increasing violence and frustration of captors; demands of captors and deadline for shooting hostages; description of large bomb placed in theatre; attitude to possible rescue attempt; generosity of Russians sharing food and drink; morale and entertainment from actor Mark Podlesny; placement of two bombs on stage; attitude to survival; description of two shootings; request for ambulance; confiscation of all mobile phones.
REEL 6 Continues: story of young woman forming relationship with captor; relations between son and Chechens; story of son being given back mobile phone to stop Russians storming theatre; further memories of calls for ambulance; description of Russian forces attempting to rescues hostages, 26/Oct/2002; memories of tear gas and smoke in balcony; final memories of Chechens before losing consciousness; story of being dragged out into street by two Russians and taken to children's hospital; description of treatment; memories of ambulance journey to British Embassy; opinion of treatment by British Embassy staff; reaction to rescue and death of other hostages.
REEL 7 continues: problem of smell on body after four days of captivity; story of getting husband released from hospital; description of being covered in blood; examination and tests for effects of gas; reaction of son after release; problem of some Chechens posing as hostages; description of activities following rescue; reaction to seeing film of siege on television; opinion of behaviour of Russian audience in theatre; story of being praised for courage during siege; question of captors receiving food and other supplies from Chechen theatre workers; opinion of female suicide bombers; attitude to fear during siege.
REEL 8 Continues: reason for captors not blowing up theatre; further comments on leader Barayev and female suicide bombers; opinion of treatment at British Embassy; support for daughter in London; question of Press Association not referring to Jewish identity; story of recovery of handbag and possessions; description of return to GB; problem of harassment by journalists; description of press conference at Heathrow; attitude to talking about experiences; harassment of daughter by press.
REEL 9 Continues: further comments on harassment by media; description of de-briefing by police; effects of siege on family; relations between hostages; further comments on generosity of Russians; political statements of Chechens; story of journalists making video of hostages; number of Chechens involved in siege; story of Chechen posing as member of audience.
REEL 10 Continues: question of suitability of theatre for terrorist attack; question of attack being tightly planned; reflections on period of captivity; psychological effects of siege on husband and son; reason for not returning to Russia; increased empathy for others in distressing situations.