THIS is the shocking moment riot police raided a Costa del Sol club packed with bikini-clad tourists in a chilling operation known as Operation Marbella.
Chilling footage shows nearly 20 heavily armed police storming the Ocean Club Marbella in the Spanish resort of Puerto Banus and ordering revelers out of the pool.
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A group of girls pose for a selfie during a police raid at the famous Ocean Club in Puerto Banus, MarbellaCredit: Mega Agency
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Heavily armed police raid a luxury resort in SpainCredit: Solarpix
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Brits and other tourists were stunned as police raided the area Credit: Solarpix
British tourists watched speechless in their swimming trunks and bikinis as police officers wearing bulletproof vests raided the venue in broad daylight.
Tourists are being urged to keep calm at the “beautiful people” site, which held one of its two annual champagne parties popular with UK holiday visitors over the weekend.
The police announced messages in Spanish and English over the public address system: “This is just a routine check. As soon as we’re done, you can continue to enjoy your afternoon.
“Don’t worry, nothing serious is happening.”
But pictures of the operation, which lasted almost two hours and also included a police helicopter hovering overhead, showed why some revelers were uneasy about the ordeal.
One member of the club is believed to have been arrested, although police have yet to officially comment on the reason for the detention.
The spectacular raid on the club followed a spate of shootings in the area, prompting the launch of the so-called Marbella Plan last month to keep British and Irish tourists safe.
At the time, police warned locals and visitors to expect more random stops and police checkpoints in and around the holiday destination.
They said nothing about surprise raids on busy spots popular with tourists, although earlier this month heavily armed police raided a gym at a sports club in the residential area of Nueva Andalucia near Puerto Banus and arrested three people.
Gym patrons were asked for their ID before being allowed to continue with their routines.
Police at the scene after gunmen opened fire at a popular Spanish resort in a SECOND shooting in a week
A spate of shootings this year in the Marbella area included the March 11 attack on British restaurant La Sala near Puerto Banus.
The shooting in April led to the arrest of a Briton and an Irishman who police said were linked to organized crime.
Kerry Katona recently stated that she backtracked on her decision to move to the famous Costa del Sol resort with her family and fiance Ryan Mahoney, due to the violent incidents that occur there.
Fernando Bentabol, the prosecutor in charge of fighting drug crime in the province of Malaga, which includes Marbella, shed light on her dark underbelly in a recent newspaper interview.
When asked by a local Spanish journalist if the Costa del Sol was turning into Medellin, Colombia’s second-largest city that was previously the most violent in the world and the former home of notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar, he said: “Yes, and no.
“It cannot be compared to Medellin because it is countries like Colombia that produce drugs and there most of the actions are related to plantations, as is happening in Morocco for example with cannabis.
“We are in an area where drugs are imported and distributed in Europe.
“But in terms of the level of the organizations involved and their economic capacity, yes, of course it can be compared.”
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Heavy armored forces are preparing to enter the hallCredit: Mega Agency
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Guards stand around the perimeter of the club as the raid takes place Credit: The Mega Agency
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Insurance enters Ocean Beach MarbellaCredits: The Mega Agency
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The operation lasted almost two hours Credit: Mega Agency
Locals have declared parts of Marbella like Puerto Banus the “Wild West”.
Recently, one suggested that tourists should start thinking about wearing a flak jacket with their swimming trunks and sandals.
Another wrote on social media, expressing fear that an innocent person could be killed: “A stray bullet could end up going into a house.”
In the early hours of Saturday morning, a 33-year-old man was shot in a housing estate a short drive from Puerto Banus, just across the border from the municipality of Marbella in the neighboring municipality of Estepona.
Still no arrests.
About ten shell casings believed to have been fired from an AK-47 were reportedly found on the ground at the scene.
Briton Marcus Stewart mowed down several pedestrians in May 2017 after speeding away from the Ocean Club in an Audi following a fight between two groups of men from the UK.
He was arrested by armed police on the beach following a police chase following a spectacular head-on collision involving an 18-day-old baby on Marbella’s famous Golden Mile.
He was later sentenced to more than five years in prison.
What is Operation Marbella?
By Tom Malley
SPANISH police have launched “Operation Marbella” to tackle violence and protect Britons following a spate of recent gangland shootings.
The Costa del Sol resort is fast becoming a crime hotspot and officers have warned locals and visitors to expect more random stops and police checkpoints in and around the holiday destination.
They are thought to increase vigilance in residential areas, as well as in shopping centers and nightclubs, such as the million-dollar Puerto Banus playground.
It comes after two terrifying shootings in March, within a week of each other.
As the police crack down on crime, they enlist the help of sniffer dogs and “air assets” – including helicopters and drones.
The start of the operation, which will continue through the summer season until October, comes after locals began calling areas like Puerto Banus the “Wild West” following four shootings in just over a month.
No charges have been brought against the second British man detained in the drama, the passenger in the car.
The Ocean Club describes itself on its website as “Marbella’s original classic beach club and a reference for style, modern luxury and atmosphere that has established it as one of Europe’s chic favorites for relaxing, entertaining and enjoying the best summer has to offer.”
It added: “Days are relaxed, with quality dining, while our themed parties are known for being as glamorous as they are exciting and lively.
“Live music, dancers, entertainers and wonderful people make this an experience to remember.”
She held this year’s opening party on May 3 and a second champagne party on Sunday, the day after the weekend police raid.
High-season bed packages around the saltwater pool cost up to €1,150 (£980).
The most expensive packages include three bottles of Veuve Clicquot, a luxury French champagne.
Revelers booking the most expensive VIP beds are being warned online to pay an extra €1,120 (£955) on Saturdays.
Anti-tourism measures that clean hotspots
A WAVE of anti-tourism measures is being implemented across Europe to crack down on mass tourism at popular holiday spots.
Overcrowding has become a major problem in many sunny destinations, and authorities are trying to find a solution to keep tourists and locals happy.
Officials have tried to reduce the impact of tourists by imposing additional taxes on tourists or banning new hotels.
Earlier this year, Venice became the first city in the world to charge a tourist ticket after it began charging day-trippers €5 (£4.30) to visit the historic Italian centre.
This was followed by an area in Barcelona that resorted to removing a well-used bus route from Apple and Google Maps to stop throngs of tourists using the bus.
Meanwhile, San Sebastián in northern Spain has limited the maximum number of people on guided visits to 25 to avoid crowds, noise, inconvenience and overcrowding.
The city has already banned the construction of new hotels.
The Spanish government has allowed restaurants to charge customers more to sit in the shade in Andalusia.
Benidorm has introduced time restrictions, as swimming in the sea between midnight and 7am could cost a whopping £1,000.
The Canary Islands are also considering measures to regulate the number of visitors – and charge daily fees to tourists.
Greece has already imposed a tourist tax during the high season (March to October), with visitors expected to pay between €1 (£0.86) and €4 (£3.45) per night, depending on the accommodation booked.
Officials in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, want to introduce a passenger fee to remind people to be polite during their travels.
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Marbella is a popular holiday destination, but a recent spate of shootings has prompted the launch of ‘Operation Marbella’Credit: Solarpix
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