Gunfight holiday horror as TUI family flees (Image: riviera-maya-news.com)
Terrifying new information has surfaced after a gun battle at a luxury holiday resort’s swimming pool left one person dead.
Petrified holidaymakers were forced to dive beneath sun loungers and barricade themselves inside their rooms during the deadly exchange of fire.
Guests have been left deeply shaken by the shooting and mayhem that unfolded at the prestigious Riu Palace Costa Mujeres resort in Mexico.
Authorities have now disclosed further particulars about the alarming police operation.
Amongst the distressed visitors was the family of Colin Nulty, a British tourist from Bolton, Greater Manchester, who had invested an eye-watering £8,000 on the lavish Mexican break, reports the Daily Star.
Everything we know about gunfight holiday horror as TUI family flees the country (Image: riviera-maya-news.com)
Colin has been left furious after cutting short his holiday following the violence that erupted whilst he was staying at the exclusive establishment.
He said: “Gunfire erupted and my wife and I instinctively ran back to our sun lounger and hid behind while crouching on the floor.”
It has subsequently emerged the pandemonium formed part of a covert police operation designed to combat criminal gang operations.
The disorder was sparked when undercover police officers challenged men suspected of involvement in criminal gang activities at the resort.
Everything we know about gunfight holiday horror as TUI family flees the country (Image: riviera-maya-news.com)
According to the Attorney General’s Office, the covert operatives were subsequently attacked by two gunmen believed to be associates of the targeted narcotics organisation. Following the initial assault, the undercover officers fired back at the suspected gang members.
The gunfight resulted in the death of one of the alleged attackers.
Two armed individuals were detained by police after the shootout.
Officers confiscated two firearms from the suspects following the exchange of gunfire.
Authorities expressed particular alarm over one weapon recovered from the alleged gang members.
The gun had been designed solely for use by the Mexican Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The State Attorney General disclosed after the incident: “Those arrested are Gamaliel ‘N’ and Jorge David ‘N’. The first of these was carrying a firearm for the exclusive use of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. A third suspect was killed on the spot by police officers.
“Following field and office investigations, it was established that the alleged drug dealers had intimidated hotel employees. They frequently went to the hotel to eat and drink in addition to offering drugs to the tourists staying there.
Our dream Mexico holiday was ruined by GUNFIGHT in hotel swimming pool – we barely made it out aliveRead on to learn about about their harrowing tale (Image: Colin Nulty)
“Faced with this situation, police officers intervened, but were threatened with a firearm by two drug dealers who were in the hotel’s pool area. They belong to a criminal group dedicated to drug dealing.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that Gamaliel ‘N’ has a criminal record for drug dealing. In the case of Jorge David ‘N’ he is identified as an accomplice of Gamaliel ‘N’ in the drug dealing activity. Both allegedly had narcotics among their belongings,” the statement added. During the statement the State Attorney General clarified “that the safety of tourists and hotel employees was never at risk”.
Riu Palace Costa Mujeres issued a response following the shooting incident.
The statement read: “Due to this case being under investigation and due to the prosecutor’s office being the one who sent the official statement, we just can share its own statement.
Everything we know about gunfight holiday horror as TUI family flees the country (Image: riviera-maya-news.com)
“This was an isolated situation, it was solved. The only person who lost his life was a suspected criminal.”
British holidaymaker Colin who witnessed the hotel incident was left outraged following the events and decided to bring his family back to the UK amid safety concerns.
Following the incident, Colin’s holiday provider TUI offered to relocate his family to a different hotel, the Princess Hotel.
However, whilst travelling to the alternative accommodation, Colin discovered another incident had taken place at the Princess Hotel involving a “large-scale shootout at the gate after a kidnapping attempt”.
Colin on holiday (Image: undefined)
Upon learning of this second incident, Colin chose to return to the UK with his family.
Despite Colin’s demand for a complete holiday refund, TUI has only compensated him for eight days of the trip totalling £3,873.57, and provided a £1,000 TUI voucher as compensation following another incident.
Colin added: “We were refunded exactly eight days of the holiday, their reasoning being we had a nice time up until the shooting incident.
“Initially, TUI was responsive to emails and I had many phone conversations with a handler. However, I have never received anything in writing from them acknowledging the incident, or anything saying they are refunding or compensating.
Everything we know about gunfight holiday horror as TUI family flees the country (Image: thecancunsun.com)
“They have since refused to answer any of my correspondence or comment on this case with any other companies or media offices that have contacted them.”
Feeling he’s been “left with no choice”, Colin has sought guidance from ABTA, the Association of British Travel Agents, and is preparing to pursue his case through the small claims court.
He added: “I only ever asked for a full refund of the holiday, but TUI’s refusal has left me no choice other than to go through ABTA and then small claims court. They have made it so hard for us and they do this intentionally hoping I will just stop, but I won’t.”
TUI has been approached for comment.