Cambodia siege: Your reaction

A Canadian child has been killed at an international school in north-west Cambodia where gunmen had taken dozens of pupils and teachers hostage. Read a selection of eyewitness accounts and comments below.

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This latest story is yet another example of the extreme lengths Cambodians are forced to go to Peggy Walker, Leeds, UK

I was in Cambodia last summer and was involved in a hostel robbery where two Canadian travellers were stabbed. Both survived, but this latest story is yet another example of the extreme lengths Cambodians are forced to go to due to the immense poverty their country suffers. The UN needs to simply do more to help.
Peggy Walker, Leeds, UK

I am a British citizen living and working in Siem Reap. My child was among those released first.
Marie Hill, Siem Reap, Cambodia

I am currently on holiday in Cambodia, and switched on the news to see some horrifying shocking images. To make things worse, I have children of my own, and am now scared to let them out of my hotel room alone.
Jason Baxter, Somerset, England

My 16-year-old daughter was doing volunteer work in Siem Reap just one month ago. She came back home a changed person with changed goals - her heart is even bigger than it was before she left Sydney (we are Americans with permanent residency). Her big, generous heart is going to break tomorrow morning when she reads this news. She told her father and me that she had never seen anything as brilliant as a smile on the face of a Cambodian child.
l Callahan, Sydney, Australia

I was in Siem Reap this time last week, exploring temples with my girlfriend. It's very quiet tourist-wise at the moment because its rainy-season. We've been telling friends how the people of this small town are extremely friendly, welcoming and gentle, despite the hardship that persists in Cambodia (even in Siem Reap). We're both stunned to hear this news, but would urge that this news didn't put would be tourists off visiting the town and its temples.
Derek Selmes, Edinburgh

I have never seen anything like this in Siem Reap province, it is very, very terrible Kosal, Siem Reap, Cambodia

I live in the Siem Reap province. I was in shock when I heard about this, I tried to go near the school to see what happened but police would not allow me. I have seen an injured girl in her mother's arms go to hospital by ambulance. I have never seen anything like this in Siem Reap province, it is very, very terrible.
Kosal, Siem Reap, Cambodia

A young girl who has been killed is Canadian. Her father is one of the management team in a nearby hotel. Reports said that he was looking for his daughter and he was told that there was one young girl who had been taken to hospital while the other parents found their children safe and sound.
Sor Pagna, Siem Reap, Cambodia

I was in Siem Reap and Angkor Wat only last week. A very safe place with some of the friendliest, kindest people I have ever met. It's scary to think that this could happen there. I hope it won't stop tourists from going, because problems there are very rare.
Brett, Exeter, Devon

I lived and worked in Siem Reap as a teacher at a language school until last October. I am deeply shocked and upset by what has happened there today. Cambodia is a country which can be de-stabilised at any time. I hope this incident doesn't put off tourists as now more than ever the locals will need their support. My heart goes out to all those who live there.
Philippa Statham, Brighton, UK

Beslan last year and now Siem Reap Sayan Mongush, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Beslan last year and now Siem Reap. The news about this spread so quickly across the country. What are those gunmen thinking about? Taking international students hostage in a country like Cambodia is very crucial since even Phnom Penh is still relying on aid and help from other nations.
Sayan Mongush, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

On behalf of the Cambodian people and hoteliers in Siem Reap, Angkor. We all pray to God that this kind of drama won't happen again that would heavily effected to tourism industry and mainly our job.
Sor Pagna, Siem Reap, Cambodia

It is a terrible thing to remember the scene, I was very shocked to hear that the kidnapper has been killing the innocent children. I can do nothing about the situation, just pray to god to bless all the children to be safe and peaceful. We waited outside far from the school with highly emotional tension from the beginning, until the police decided to assault the school. I have no idea about the situation but if you were at the scene you would know how I feel about this. Finally, thanks to police that they got right decision to liberty the child from the hell. This was never be forgotten by all witnesses!
Khem, Siem Reap, Cambodia

I was in Cambodia in May, and plan to start charity projects there in the near future. I still plan to visit again and even wonder about purchasing land and building a home in or near Siem Reap. Such violence occurs from America to Cambodia, but there are too many guns and too much corruption - it takes worrying forms in different ways in different places. So I still plan to go out there and do what I can to Make Poverty History in whatever ways I can, starting with my own eyes and heart and hands, in Cambodia. My deepest sympathy for those affected and unless we go there and turn the situation around, one day such violence will reach us even in our armchairs in front of our televisions.
Mike, Ashford, Kent