Tourists were left running for their lives after a man was shot to death by assassins who fled on jet skis in Cancún, Mexico.
The 30-year-old Mexican man, who has not been named by police, was shot outside the five-star Hotel Riu.
Two of the shooters were beachgoers who walked up to the man before firing, bystanders said.
He was declared dead at the scene.
Guests fled for cover as chaos gripped the beach on Kukulcán Boulevard midday yesterday, sheltering inside the £750-a-night hotel lobby and phoning loved ones between screams.
Hotel Riu said the victim was neither a guest nor an employee, with local outlet Turquesa News reporting that he was in charge of the jet skis.
Prosecutors believe the incident may be connected to the fatal shooting of a 12-year-old in the same area in June – the killers, who allegedly intended to target a drug dealer, fled by jet skis, too.
In yesterday’s shooting, two of the assassins fled on foot while the others boarded jet skis, with the police sending a Marina boat to track them down.
One of the gunmen sprinted along the beach area of the neighbouring Dreams Hotel.
He was wearing dark Bermuda shorts and a black shirt.
The search for the suspect is ongoing, with drug trafficking and cartel violence being the main lines of investigation.
The UK Foreign Office says British tourists should exercise caution when visiting parts of the seaside town of Cancun.
‘Rival criminal gangs have clashed in popular Cancun tourist destinations and surrounding areas. Gangs have not targeted tourists, but violent incidents could affect anyone nearby. Since 2021, several shootings have affected tourists,’ the department says.
‘Be very cautious after dark in downtown areas of Cancun, Tulum and Playa del Carmen. Stay in well-lit pedestrian streets and tourist zones. Follow advice from the local authorities and your tour operator.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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