British tourists feared a jihadi terror attack at a resort when entertainment staff staged a mock gun attack.
Staff in dark clothes burst into a restaurant while firing fake firearms.
They were supposed to be “gangsters” promoting a new casino at the First Choice Holiday Village Aliathon in Paphos, Cyprus.
The stunt came just two days after 45 people were killed in a terror attack at Istanbul airport and only four days after the first anniversary of the Tunisian beach slaughter in which 38 people including 30 Britons died.
Furious parents criticised the prank last Thursday and threatened to boycott the resort in Paphos, The Sun reported.
Bernard Heald, 66, from Bolton, posted online: “Not happy, men bursting into dining room firing guns and frightening people.
“It was in real bad taste after the events at Ataturk airport and shootings at other resorts.
“Been coming here as a family for the past four years but will be seriously considering going elsewhere in future.
“Totally disgusted, could have given someone a heart attack.”
First Choice apologised for the restaurant stunt and said it would not be repeated.A spokesman said: “This account of events is concerning to hear and we would like to apologise to guests who were present.
“First Choice can confirm that changes have been made to our entertainment programme with immediate effect and guidelines have been re-issued to our resort teams.”
Last summer a group of men appeared by the pool at the five-star Grand Yazici Mares hotel, in Icmeler, Turkey, wearing Middle Eastern outfits and toting imitation guns.
Jet2holidays apologised and said the hotel’s entertainment team would never use the Arab costumes again.