'When I heard the gunshot my heart sank'

The son of Tan Seok Ho, who is originally from Singapore, was among those taken hostage in the school siege in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

She describes the trauma of waiting outside, not knowing the fate of three-year-old Ly Vong.

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Around 0930 four men, one of whom was armed, walked into my child's classroom.

The school siege lasted for more than five hours

They locked the door and held him hostage, along with 20 of his classmates aged between two and six, one teacher and one teaching assistant.

The police were on the scene very quickly and word soon spread to parents, as one parent was in the school at the time preparing for a ceremony on Sunday marking the end of the academic year.

I arrived with my husband and brother-in-law and there were already a lot of parents outside the school compound - around 40 altogether.

We weren't able to see what was happening inside, which obviously made everyone nervous.

Once I had my son back in my arms he looked at me and said: 'Mummy my school is broken'

Police could not tell us what was going on as they were busy negotiating with the hostage-takers by radio.

When I heard the first gunshot, I felt my heart sink.

We heard two gunshots initially from inside the school, which obviously made us all very concerned about the safety of our children.

My first concern was that they would kill all the children.

Apparently they were fired into the ceiling of the school, but we just didn't know at the time.

Brave act

By 1430 the hostage-takers agreed to let police take a van into the compound.

My brother-in-law went into the compound with the police.

At this stage there were a lot more people outside and it was not as easy for the police to keep everyone out, so my brother-in-law Sok Tonh went in with them.

The police were at the doorway of the school talking to the hostage-takers inside.

As we fled we could hear gunfire coming from the school

There was some confusion and at that time my brother-in-law saw my son coming out of the compound and grabbed him.

He was the first child to get out of the school and my brother-in-law ran out of the compound and gave him to my husband, who handed him to me.

It was a very brave act by my brother-in-law.

Once I had my son back in my arms he looked at me and said: "Mummy my school is broken."

He would later repeat it to me. That is all he has said about it since.

Traumatic day

We went straight home. As we fled we could hear gunfire coming from the school.

I couldn't believe how many people were outside the school by then.

There were hundreds of bystanders, and there were shots being fired inside.

No-one seemed to be afraid of stray bullets.

We later heard that one of my son's classmates, a Canadian boy aged two-and-a-half, was killed.

My son was visibly shaken

However, we also heard that there was no actual exchange of gunfire between the police and the hostage takers, so we think he must have been killed before police moved in.

Some of the other children were injured, but there were no serious injuries.

As for my son, he was visibly shaken. He looked shocked afterwards.

But he does not want to talk any more about it.

Tonight will tell whether he will be able to deal with the shock.

And tomorrow we will see whether he is able to return to school.

It's been a long and traumatic day.

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Your comments

This terrible event is depressingly familiar these days Chris Pattullo, Vancouver, Canada

This is a terrible event and depressingly familiar these days. However, instead of focusing on retribution, why not focus on the cause of the problem. Why did this happen in the first place? Killing killers solves nothing, and many more can always take their place. Too much emphasis has been placed on punishing those responsible which neither solves the current problem, nor prevents it from producing a similar situation in the future.
Chris Pattullo, Vancouver, Canada

My heart goes out to all parents whose children were involved in the incident. I cannot stop my tears as I read about what happened.
Grace, Melaka, Malaysia

I am a parent and a teacher of small children and it's very easy to take sides in an issue such as this. But we must ask ourselves why there are people in this world who reach such a state of desperation where nothing and nobody else matters. Were they born like this or were they created by 'the system'? This type of tragedy is becoming all too common. Let's fix the system before it is too late, or has the horse already bolted?
Roger Tuck, Kingston Upon Thames, UK

It's awful that a little precious life was only worth $1,000 and a van ride to Thailand. It's very scary because my kids once attended Logo's International School in Phnom Penh. My heart goes out to the family of the little boy who was killed.
Manita Hazlewood, Riverbank, USA

It doesn't typify the reality of everyday life here Nicole Biddison, Siem Reap, Cambodia

As a teacher in Siem Reap, this is a horrifying incident, yet it doesn't typify the reality of everyday life here. The real irony of the whole thing is the fact is that local law enforcement officials were in the middle of a huge conference on the topic of crime and terrorism. I think the response by those officials could have been better, to appropriately handle this terrible situation in a speedy and effective fashion. No lives should have been harmed or lost.
Nicole Biddison, Siem Reap, Cambodia

The perpetrators are not human. They killed a two-and-a-half-year-old child. How could they do this to a small boy? I am very shocked by this. I have never seen this in Siem Reap province before.
Sal, Siem Reap, Cambodia

So terrible, I cannot help shedding tears and my heart gets contracted when imagining my little daughter in this situation. It is so unfair on these helpless children. It was bad enough in the case of Beslan, but it cannot be worse than in this case, with some of them hardly out of their diapers. Nothing can justify such action.
Tran Nam Anh, Hanoi, Vietnam

I hope those criminals are dealt with accordingly J M Na'amana, Honiara, Solomon Islands

I share my sympathy with the parents who lost their son at the hands of arrogant people with selfish motives. I hope those criminals are dealt with accordingly.
J M Na'amana, Honiara, Solomon Islands

This has personally hit home for us as our daughter attended the school in 2003 for two months and made many friends. Our thoughts and prayers are very much with all the children, teachers and their families who have been traumatised by this event.
Mary Sullivan, Elton Merrin and Talia, Nelson, New Zealand

When this most innocent child - who happened to be Canadian - was slaughtered, we all died a little bit inside. Having two boys, aged one and three, we share this unimaginable grief with his family. God bless.
Paul Howard, Ottawa, Canada

My heart has been aching all day from the loss of this little life. I cannot imagine the pain this family is going through. What kind of monster could do this? All of Canada mourns this little boy.
Sandra Cornell, Calgary, Canada

I cannot fathom why criminals choose to take innocent children hostage Laura, Newton, MA, USA

I was shocked to hear the news of violence in yet another school. I cannot fathom why criminals choose to take innocent children hostage, let alone kill a harmless two year old boy in the process. While I was horrified by the news of his murder, the police must be praised for preventing any further fatalities. I wish the best to the boy's family, and the children who witnessed the horrible event.
Laura, Newton, MA, USA

I have not been able to get the horrifying thoughts of this incident out of my head since first learning of it this morning. It is a shame that these hostage takers stooped so low to not only take children hostage, but then to kill one of them. My thoughts and prayers are with the family of this child, as are those of all of Canada and of the civilised world I am sure.
Aaron, Gander, Canada

It is disgusting that some people have to turn to such lowly acts of violence against not only innocent people, but innocent children. How the world can produce such monsters is a mystery to me, or maybe not. We need to stop condoning violence as a means to achieve objectives and as long as governments continue to use guns and war as a means to "solve conflict" the violence this world faces at a global and local level will only intensify.
Jennifer DeLucry, Vancouver, BC, Canada

I feel so so upset for the poor parents of the little child that was killed. How dare these monsters rob a child of his life. Anyone who can harm a child in this way does not deserve a place in this world anymore.
Gillian Smyth, Belfast, Northern Ireland

International schools these days need to have good security Wendy Sanchez, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia

International schools these days need to have good security. My daughter has just finished two years sixth form at and international school and it has always been at the back of my mind that something like this could happen. Parents and school staff must be vigilant.
Wendy Sanchez, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia

Targeting children is the ultimate form of cowardice. My heart goes out to the family who lost an innocent child to such a thoughtless and inhumane act. I have three children of my own and the unnecessary loss of a child is one's worst nightmare. The perpetrators should be punished severely to show the world that we will not give in to such savage behaviour.
Nicole, Bangkok, Thailand

It's 3am and I cannot sleep any longer. My heart goes to this little boy who has rested now in peace. I can assure his parents that he is in a better place. This world is now such a cruel place to be.
Melody Mahzari, Zug, Switzerland

I wonder how the other children and parents are dealing with it. I hope they do okay, and the perpetrators don't.
Tomas Zollinger, Winchester, Canada

I regret and am saddened to hear about this event. Even though I had no relative involved, it happened in my beloved country. May I share great sadness with the Canadian people. I appeal to all nations to join hands to remove these immoral activities.
Lem Suthavaridh, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

I was really shocked when I heard about this news. It is the first time I have ever heard of a hostage taking in Siem Reap. Basically, Siem Reap is the safest province in Cambodia. I'm really sorry for the Canadian child who died who was just two years old, and innocent. How could the gunmen kill a small child who did nothing to them?
Sok Thida, Cheonan, South Korea

These insane acts solve nothing Edward Seyforth, Western Shore, Canada

There is now more hatred in the world than ever before. Also, so many more maniacs with sick minds. Inhumane acts against children are horrendous. These insane acts solve nothing.
Edward Seyforth, Western Shore, Canada

What has the world come to when innocent children must suffer for adults' insanity?
Jennifer, Ontario, Canada

I spent three days in Siem Reap just a few months ago. It's really quite the boomtown, and it's quite emblematic of the hope that currently springs from the Cambodian people. Not only is this horrible for the families subjected to it, but tourism is such a huge element in the fledgling Cambodian economy, the last thing Cambodians need is something like this to keep tourists away.
Jason Smyczek, Arlington, Virginia, USA

What another sad day for the world. My tears and my prayers go out to the family of this little boy.
Liam, Chicago, USA

The thought of someone shooting a two-year-old at close range is heartbreaking and incomprehensible. Children are the ultimate innocents, but are being used as pawns and shields for those who don't value the preciousness of the life of a small child. My prayers go out to his parents as I can only imagine how overwhelming their grief is right now and how there are no answers to their probable question of "why".
Natalie Francis-Bonifazio, Miami, Florida, USA

One has to wonder what would bring the hostage takers to sacrificing innocent children for their cause. The fact that the hostage takers sacrificed the life of a young child for an insignificant amount of money and some weapons demonstrates how morally twisted people are becoming. What sort of lives were these criminals living that they were led to believe that taking hostage a school of young children would be their best bet?
Gareth Evans, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

It's just a shame that an incident like this needs to happen to highlight the socio-economic problems of Cambodia John Thornley, Manchester, UK

The region of Siem Reap, outside of the income from Angkor tourism, is extremely poor. It is also only a few years since the Khmer Rouge ceased to be a force in the area. These two facts are reflected in the use of arms and the ransom of just $1,000. It's just a shame that an incident like this needs to happen to highlight the socio-economic problems of Cambodia.
John Thornley, Manchester, UK

My deepest sympathy goes to the family of the little boy who died. It is my opinion that a normal human being does not harm children. Therefore I hope those responsible are punished but also treated for insanity.
Julette Murray, Montego Bay, Jamaica

It's a terrible thing to happen, and like many people who've been to Siem Reap recently, I'm very, very surprised. Like most of Cambodia, it's a terribly poor place but the people are generally extremely friendly. They've seen so many terrible things over the years that the last thing on their minds is more violence. And of course, being so close to Angkor Wat will devastate the tourist traffic which the town depends upon. Terrible for the boy and his family and also for the local Cambodians.
Brian, Vancouver, Canada

It's amazing that in the 21st century we have allowed ourselves as a civilisation to let the hate grow on that scale Carlos Lara, Mexico City

Since the Beslan siege, children have become a target in terrorist attacks, why? It's amazing that in the 21st century we have allowed ourselves as a civilisation to let the hate grow on that scale.
Carlos Lara, Mexico City

Just horrifying. What kind of person could shoot dead a two-and-a half-year-old child? I have been depressed ever since reading this story. I hope there is retribution for this act, although it won't bring the child back.
Mia Noren, Toms River, NJ, USA

Words can't describe my feeling about the incident and especially to the little boy who died, my heart is reaching out to his parents. What I can't understand is how can anybody kill an innocent child? Children are helpless and it's so unfair to use them for any personal interests.
Celina Fodor, Geneva, Switzerland

Obviously my thoughts are with the dead boy and his family at this traumatic time. When I turned on the news my immediate reaction was to think of Beslan. It is horrendous that a school is targeted by anybody. Hopefully the perpetrators will pay the ultimate penalty.
Christopher Linthwaite, Beverley, East Yorkshire