As I see it the new level of terror is that we seem to be seeing willing suicide bombers being used in conflicts and prepared to die for causes that may not 'directly' affect them.

The truth is rather slow in coming out and it would rather suit the Russian authorities to be able to portray this as NOT being a 'local' action - so we we rather have to 'wait and see'. However, the evidence of the numbers involved and the various disputes between them and lack of control that seem to have contributed to the bloody mess - does seem to indicate a wide range of participants.

However, it may just turn out that this chaos was simply an inevitable result of the numbers involved - of both terrorists and of those kidnapped. And also the number and nature of those arround the scene who were involved in trying to bring it to a (peaceful) end?