Five music fans have reportedly been killed after a shooting broken out at BPM Festival in Mexico.
It has since been revealed that a lone gunman was responsible for the attack, with Mexican media revealing that five are dead and 15 have been injured. Police believe that the shooting was the result of an altercation inside the club.
The tragedy at the dance music and EDM event took place in the early hours of the morning, with Jackmaster Tweeting from Playa Del Carmen in Mexico after shots were fired at Blue Parrot during Elrow’s closing party.
“Someone has come into the club in Playa Del Carmen and opened fire,” he Tweeted. “4-5 dead and many wounded. Stay in ur fuckin hotel if you’re here at BPM.”
He added: “Apparently now more shots fired at another club in the area.”
The second shooting is believed to be taking place at another closing party at The Jungle.
Someone has come into the club in Playa Del Carmen and opened fire. 4-5 dead and many wounded. Stay in ur fuckin hotel if you're here at BPM
— JACKMASTER (@jackmaster) January 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/jackmaster/status/820907040193314817
A statement made by festival organisers says: “The BPM Festival has been working closely with the local authorities (Seguridad Publica / Policia Turistica) throughout the festival to ensure public safety and security for all visitors.
“We are overcome with grief over this senseless act of violence and we are cooperating fully with local law enforcement and government officials as they continue their investigation. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims and their families and all those affected by these tragic events.”
Others have also Tweeted from the scene:
https://twitter.com/g_livesfordance/status/820896947804524544
Shooting at Blue Parrot during elrow. Mother fuckers shot through the back where it's all open. I'm afraid it doesn't look good
— MOH & TW 2020? (@Party_Mnstr) January 16, 2017
Shots were fired at Blue Parrot while we were in the building. We got out okay and are finding out more details
— ✌alerie (@valerie___lee) January 16, 2017
Shooting at Blue Parrot during BPM. We were all there but we got out and are now safe.
— Carré (@CarreOrenstein) January 16, 2017
“We were at Elrow, in the back of the club,” eyewitness Angel told Dazed. “We heard what appeared to be gunshots but a worker told us to calm down, it was just fireworks. People (sic) started getting up and again the shots started. My friends saw the shooter running across the back of the club shooting into it through a metal rail. One of my friends saw a person shot and bleeding.
“Once the shooting stopped we jumped over that same fence and ran on the beach about 10 blocks. We were helped by some other party goers by letting us hang out in their hotel for a few minutes. They saw a guy shot in the head”
She added: “After a few minutes we left that hotel and we saw police had a guy in custody and he was yelling ‘it wasn’t me’, as we turned the corner we heard another two shots and ran again. We finally found a taxi that stopped for us and brought us to our Air BnB.”
Mixmag US editor Valerie Lee has also spoken out about her experience during the ordeal: “We were in the backstage area, which is super close to the main entrance. At least four to five shots were fired.
“People started running because there’s an exit in the back. We stopped and hid behind a cement wall, then crawled under a metal table.
She added: “Security guards at first didn’t think it was shots and kept claiming it was fireworks, saying everything was OK. Then people kept running and said they saw a gun. We kept hiding until they opened the back gate and we ran outside.”
Mixmag reports that one of the dead is believed to be a security guard. Meanwhile, Data Transmission reports that officials do not believe the attack to be terrorism-related, while others claim this was a cartel-related incident.
Check back at NME.com for more news as it develops.
This year marked BPM Festival’s 10th anniversary.