Brit tourists 'run for lives' as Turkish hotel staff stage sick Tunisia-style terror PRANK
TERRIFIED British tourists ran for their lives after hotel staff in Turkey posed as so-called Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists in a tasteless poolside prank.
One horrified Briton even revealed how he had liquid from a bottle marked "Fuel" poured over him by a mock terrorist - who then pulled out a lighter.
Fearing another massacre similar to the Sousse beach attack - when ISIS-inspired Seifeddine Rezgui went on a bloody rampage in the north African resort, slaying 30 Britons - holidayers described how they screamed and ran for their lives.
One One ran up to me with a bucket with ‘Fuel’ written on the side. He threw it over me and got out a cigarette lighter
Disgusted Jason Phythian was among the unassuming tourists sunbathing by the pool, last Thursday, when a group of men wearing outfits and carrying the imitation guns appeared.
The 43-year-old told The Sun: "We were so relieved - it was the hotel's idea of entertainment for the day.
"They thought it was funny to run around the pool dressed as terrorists.
"One ran up to me with a bucket with ‘fuel’ written on the side. He threw it over me and got out a cigarette lighter.
"I jumped up, not knowing what on Earth was going on. It was disgusting to try and make light of Tunisia in that way.”
The party also included Mr Phythian's wife Maureen, sister Dawn Sutton, her husband David and nine-year-old son Tyler.
He explained how as they were sat around the pool "suddenly everyone became terrified".
He said: “I looked around and saw Arab-looking guys stalking around and above the pool carrying big guns.
“Then one threw the bucket over me. Dawn had been haunted by the news of the Tunisia attack and we’d tried really hard to persuade her to come with us.
“You could see in her face that she thought her worst nightmare was coming true. She was panicking like hell. She kept saying, ‘I’m going home, I’m going home’."
He said: “We were told it was just a joke and directed to take it up with our holiday rep. We had friends in another hotel, and they showed the pictures to the manager of that hotel — and they were gobsmacked that anyone would do such a thing.
“Obviously the staff knew what they were doing and were trying to ease the tensions of people at the hotel by having a joke. They thought it would be funny to scare everyone.
“But it was absolutely disgusting to try and make light of Tunisia in that way."
A spokeswoman for the tour operator said: “The hotel management have assured us it was never their intention to cause any offence or upset with their entertainment programme.
“This was a Hollywood-themed poolside show, which included the characters Rambo and Superman, and is always well received by the hotel’s residents.
"The management now understands some of the costumes may have caused offence and will no longer use these in their shows.”
ISIS claimed responsibility for the Tunisia gun massacre - where lone gunman Rezgui killed 38 people, including 30 Britons, as they relaxed on a Sousse beach.
The stunt is not the first time trusted staff have posed as terrorists.
Last month HSBC sacked six workers who filmed themselves staging a mock ISIS execution of an Asian worker and posted it online.
Sick footage posted online showed five of them laughing and joking as a colleague in an orange jumpsuit, named as Saf Ahmed, kneeled at their feet.
One clutched a coat hanger as a fake knife while another held Mr Ahmed by the shoulders.
A worker apparently shouted an Arabic phrase before one was heard whooping.
A spokesman for HSBC said: "This is an abhorrent video and HSBC would like to apologise for any offence caused."
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