MOSCOW , Russia ( CNN ) -- Families and friends of the more than 300 people killed in Russia 's worst school massacre marked the fifth anniversary of the tragedy Tuesday . Mourners visit the Beslan school gymnasium on the fifth anniversary of the massacre . At exactly 9:15 a.m. , a bell rang out over the city of Beslan and the remnants of School Number 1 , where 32 heavily armed militants took more than 1,200 people -- children , parents and teachers -- hostage on the first day of school in 2004 . Russian television showed hundreds of people lined up at the school 's gymnasium , where the hostages were herded . They brought flowers , toys and water bottles -- symbolizing the water the captives were denied . Dozens of pictures of slain pupils lined the walls . The militants demanded that Russia withdraw from the breakaway republic of Chechnya . For three days , the world watched as Russian special forces took up positions around the school and town , and parents of students inside the building waited behind barricades , hopeful for a happy ending to the ordeal . But for many , there was none . Five years later , criticism still swirls about how the government has handled the investigation of the attack . Officials say a militant set off a bomb on the third day of the siege , prompting special forces to respond with a barrage of gunfire . Killed in the crossfire were 334 people -- more than 180 of them children . However , some relatives of the victims , as well as human rights organizations , say the bloodshed began with a government sniper firing at a militant . The only known attacker to survive was Nur-Pashi Kulayev , who was sentenced to life in prison in 2006 . In an address Tuesday marking the first day of the school year , Russian President Dmitry Medvedev made no mention of the Beslan massacre . Just one more sign , critics say , that the government has left the tragedy in the past . Coverage of the anniversary was also overshadowed by media attention to the 70th anniversary of the beginning of World War II . But relatives of the Beslan massacre victims are still searching for answers , and asking if anything has changed in the still-restive North Caucuses .
32 militants took more than 100 people hostage at the site in 2004 . Militants demanded Russia withdraw from breakaway Republic of Chechnya . 334 people -- including 180 children -- died during attempt to end siege . Criticism remains about how Russia has handled investigation of attack .