It would appear that the terrorists indeed died from being shot and that some of them were already unconscious. I appreciate the Post article. We have not had any such in the local english language papers here in Tokyo.
I would imagine that when the Russian Team broke in, they shot first and then asked questions. That seems logical to assume. Anyone with a gun is a target. As far as the bombs are concerned, the terrotists claimed they had them and the hostages reported that they had them. What more do you want?
Why didn't they set the bombs off? I have no idea. Maybe they were fakes, which would be gross dumb. Maybe they weren't made properly. Maybe the bombers chickened out. The claim that the terrorists had bombs is not something that was cooked up by the Russian Government. The terrorists themselves threatened to blow up themselves and the building if they were rushed.
The two shooting deaths took place, according to the Japan Times, when a small boy paniced and ran crying up the aslie. The guard was taken by surprise and fired, killing two people near the boy but not hitting him. It was this shooting that convinced the Russians that the terrorists had indeed started killing hostages, an act which they had threatened if their demands were not met.
If anyone has different, credible informantio, please share it.
Sorry to disappoint you Lepus' but they don't even HAVE the National Enquirer over here in Japan.

troll