Gangsters open fire on pub-goers in tourist hotspot

CCTV shows two gunmen calmly walk up to a bar — then — with no hesitation, they open fire. WARNING: Disturbing images

WARNING: Disturbing images

This is the moment two gunmen open fire on pub-goers in a Mexican Playa del Carmen resort popular with Brits and where Geordie Shore was filmed.

The bloodbath unfolded near the popular holiday hotspot of Cancun and was caught on CCTV cameras in what police describe as a gangland attack.

CCTV footage shows two men walking up to the busy bar called Cervecería Chapultepec, which is located at the crossroads of Constituyentes Avenue and 100 Street.

They both then pull out pistols and begin firing into the bar, with one of the gunmen firing at customers on the terrace — some of them being thrown to the ground from the impact of the bullets.

RELATED:One dead as gunmen attack Mexico resort

This security camera footage still shows the gunmen opening fire on tourists. Picture: CEN/Australscope

The horrifying attack is believed to be linked to racketeering. Picture: CEN/Australscope

Where the horrific attack took place. Picture: CEN/Australscope

The gunmen continue firing into the bar before sprinting away while those injured are writhing in pain amid pools of blood on the floor.

One man appears to be bleeding profusely from his stomach as he lies motionless.

Someone else can be seen moving only her arm.

Reports state one person was killed and 11 injured.

Those injured were taken to the General Hospital of Playa del Carmen, where nine of them remain.

Two are said to be seriously injured, while the other seven are in recovery.

The person killed has not been named in reports.

Meanwhile, a crime reporter who had been covering the atrocity was himself murdered hours later.

The body of Francisco Romero, a police reporter for newspaper Quintana Roo Hoy and director of the local news website Ocurrio Aqui was found outside a bar in Playa del Carmen.

Customers rush to the aid of a wounded woman. Picture: CEN/Australscope

Bloodstain at the site where Mexican journalist Francisco Romero was murdered in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo. The crime reporter was murdered in the resort town on Mexico's Caribbean coast after receiving threats, authorities said on Thursday, the fifth reporter slain this year in one of the most dangerous countries for the press. Picture: Rodrigo Arangua/AFP

The General Direction of Public Safety of the Municipality of Solidaridad said the attack was believed to have been carried out by a gang who were demanding protection money from the bar in a racketeering scheme.

Prosecutors said two 38-calibre guns were used.

An investigation has been launched and the governor of the state of Quintana Roo, Carlos Manuel Joaquin Gonzalez, said the state was going to take direct control of security in Solidaridad.

He said: “Due to the emergency situation that the municipality of Solidaridad is going through, and following the rights given to me by the Constitution and the current laws, I have made the decision to take control of the public security and traffic in the municipality of Solidaridad temporarily.”

Playa del Carmen is one of the most popular areas in Mexico with foreign tourists.

Mr Gonzalez said measures would be put in place to guarantee the safety of citizens and tourists.

No arrests have been reported, and the investigation is ongoing.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission