Police have not yet made a statement saying the gunman has been apprehended.
BPM Festival has released a statement confirming that four people have died and another 12 left injured after a lone gunman opened fire at their closing party earlier this morning.
“It is with great sadness to share that police have confirmed reports of a lone shooter outside the Blue Parrot nightclub in Playa Del Carmen earlier today, which resulted in four fatalities and 12 injured,” reads the statement.
Three members of the BPM security team were among those whose lives were lost while trying to protect festival-goers inside the venue.
“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,” the statement continues, adding that is is “cooperating fully with local law enforcement and government officials as they continue their investigation.”
Rodolfo Del Angel, police director in Quintana Roo state, told the Milenio TV station that the shootings were the result of “a disagreement between people inside” the Blue Parrot.
Earlier this morning, Jackmaster tweeted from an Elrow event at the Blue Parrot nightclub: “Someone has come into the club in Playa Del Carmen and opened fire. 4-5 dead and many wounded,” urging festival-goers to “stay in your fuckin hotel.”
DJs Sidney Charles and Sante were performing at the Blue Parrot when shots were reported just after 3.30am. Sidney Charles told The Mirror that a gunman opened fire next to the stage of the venue. “The shooter was left, next to the stage and just started shooting,” he said.
Eyewitness George de Menezes told The Independent that he was in the Blue Parrot “when literally two metres from us shots started going off. No one took it seriously, but I knew straight away that it was a gun and dropped to the floor, then everyone dropped with me.
“The music stopped and so did the shots, so we got up and one man was down on the floor and looked dead, and another man had been shot but was trying to stay on his feet.”
He added: “Everyone tried to run out to the beach from the club and all of a sudden we heard another shot and everyone dropped again and it kept going on. Finally got out from there and got up to the Main Street and there was another man dead on the street, so everyone started running for their lives.”
De Menezes said he heard more shots after getting back to his hotel, along with reports of shootings at other clubs. Further attacks have not yet been confirmed.
As The Mirror also reports, a Canadian national is reported to be among the dead. It is not yet known if any British festival-goers were caught up in the attack. Police have yet to issue a statement on the whereabouts of the attacker, leading to suggestions the gunman is still at large. The motive behind the attack has not yet been confirmed.
