Child killed in Cambodia school siege

One child, reported to be three-years-old, has been killed after a group of gunmen took over an international school in Cambodia.

The siege happened at around 9:30am local time, when a group of gunmen burst into the school in Siem Reap, taking pupils and teachers hostage.

Initial reports indicated that around 70 people were taken hostage, although some hostages were freed.

29 children are believed to have been held hostage during the siege, which lasted several hours. The children are reported to have come from a variety of different countries including Japan, America, Ireland, Australia, India, Indonesia, Singapore and Taiwan. One British child was among the hostages.

The child who died is believed to be Canadian.

The group of hostage-takers had demanded $1,000, a variety of guns and grenades and a vehicle to take them to Thailand.

The siege ended when police stormed the school, following threats by the gunmen to kill the children one by one. Some reports have indicated that the gunmen also attempted to leave the school, taking several children with them.

Four hostage-takers were arrested, although there were reports that two other members of the group had been killed.

The motive for the attack is still unclear, although police said that the men appeared to be employees of a security firm based in the capital, Phnom Penh. There has also been speculation that the men may be members of an anti-government group known as the Cambodian Freedom Fighters.

(KMcA/SP)