Hotel staff at Turkish resort packed with British holidaymakers stage mock ISIS attack with fake guns and cans of 'fuel' just six weeks after Tunisian beach massacre

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British holidaymakers have told of the terrifying moment staff at a Turkish resort staged a mock ISIS-style attack and stormed the pool area with fake guns and cans of 'fuel' - just six week after the Tunisian beach massacre.

Jason Phythian, 43, was relaxing beside the pool at the five-star Grand Yazici Mares hotel in Icmeler when a worker – dressed in Arab clothing – poured liquid marked 'fuel' over him.

The electrician, from Fallowfield, Greater Manchester, then watched in horror as the man pulled out a lighter, while other nearby sunbathers ran for their lives as other 'attackers' ran amok with fake machine guns.

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Jason Phythian, 43, was relaxing beside the pool at the five-star Grand Yazici Mares hotel in Icmeler, Turkey, (pictured) when staff at the resort stormed the pool area with fake guns and liquid cans marked with 'fuel'

The terrified holidaymakers were later informed the ordeal was part of a 'Hollywood-themed poolside show', but many were left outraged and said it resembled the atrocities in Tunisia.

A total of 38 people, including 30 British holidaymakers, were killed when ISIS terrorist Seifeddine Rezgui Yacoubi stormed a popular resort near Sousse, Tunisia, on June 26.

British tour operators immediately suspended holidays to the North African country, with the Foreign Office warning of potential further attacks.

Mr Phythian, who was on a 10-day holiday with five family members to celebrate his father George's 70th birthday, said the incident at the Turkish resort had left them wanting to return to the UK.

He told The Sun's Mike Ridley: 'There were loads of British people round the pool, and suddenly everyone became terrified.

'I looked around and saw Arab-looking guys stalking around and above the pool carrying big guns.

'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.'

Mr Phythian, who was a week into his holiday on the Dalmatian coast when the incident occurred last Thursday, complained to hotel staff but said it was dismissed as a prank.

His family, comprising of him and his wife Maureen, his father George, sister Dawn Sutton and her husband David and nine-year-old son Tyler, had paid more than £5,000 to book the sunshine break through tour operator Jet2Holidays.

The electrician, from Fallowfield, Greater Manchester, watched in horror as one worker covered him in liquid, from a can marked 'fuel' and pulled out a lighter, while other nearby sunbathers ran terrified for their lives as other men ran amok with fake machine guns. Pictured: The resort where the drama unfolded last Thursday

Mr Phythian, who was on a 10-day holiday with five family members to celebrate his father George's 70th birthday, said the incident was too similar to the Tunisian beach massacre in which 38 people were killed

Ms Sutton, 41, also complained about the incident in a review on the hotel's page on Trip Advisor.

She wrote: 'So shocked to see them dressed up. One was dressed in army pants walking round with a gun and pointing it at people.

'Then there were two walking about as Arabs, one with a rifle and one with a container with 'Fuel' written on — it was only water.

'He came up to a family member and poured it on his head, then pretended to light his head. They thought it was entertainment.

'I just thought it was bad taste since what happened in Tunisia.'

Other reviews on Trip Advisor also condemned the poolside actions of the hotel staff.

One recent review, written by Danni909 three weeks ago, said: 'The animation team were running around, throwing water over people who were sunbathing. 

'They even managed to soak a poor woman who was lay there reading her kindle and who was also wearing a hearing aid. 

'Needless to say, she was not very happy. I'm certainly no kill joy, and it was nice to see the kids having fun, but they should keep their entertainment to those who wish to get involved and not those who are innocently lay on sun loungers minding their own business.' 

Jet2Holidays, with whom the Phythian family booked their holiday, told MailOnline that it regretted the incident.

'We are sorry to hear about the distress experienced [by the family] and on hearing this we immediately spoke to the hotel management. They 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 it is always well received by the hotel’s residents.'

'The hotel management now understands that some of the costumes may have caused offense and they will no longer use these in their shows.”

MailOnline has contacted representatives of the Grand Yazici Mares hotel in Icmeler for comment.

A total of 38 people, including 30 British holidaymakers, were killed when ISIS terrorist Seifeddine Rezgui Yacoubi (pictured on the beach with a rifle) stormed a popular resort near Sousse, Tunisia, on June 26

Seifeddine Rezgui Yacoubi (pictured) was later shot dead by police after the terrorist attack on June 26

It is not the first time a group has been condemned for staging a mock ISIS-style terror attack.

Last month, six HSBC workers made a mock ISIS execution video during a team-building day at a go karting centre.

The footage, posted online, showed five men in black overalls and balaclavas laughing as they stood over an Asian colleague, named as Saf Ahmed, who could be seen kneeling in an orange jumpsuit.

One of the workers could be heard shouting 'Allahu Akbar' - Arabic for 'God is great' - as an 'executioner' brandished a coat hanger as a fake knife.

The bank later revealed it had sacked the six members of staff for their 'inappropriate behaviour' after customers branded the stunt 'utter, utter idiocy'.

The latest mock ISIS attack comes as the terror threat in many popular European holiday destinations remains higher than ever before.

According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the countries with the highest risk of attack on visitors include Spain, France, Turkey, Tunisia and Egypt, although not all areas within these are deemed unsafe.

Medium-risk zones include Germany, Italy and Greece due to a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals, from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria.

The UK is listed as in a severe terrorism state by the Government, which indicates that an attack is highly likely, as determined by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre and the Security Service (MI5). 

HOW THE TUNISIAN BEACH MASSACRE, CLAIMING 38 LIVES, UNFOLDED

In the chilling Tunisian massacre, student Seifeddine Rezgui pulled out a Kalashnikov hidden in a beach parasol and fired bullets at sunbathers lounging on a beachfront resort.

The gunman, who was laughing and joking among the midday bathers, was later shot dead by police after a rampage lasting at least 20 minutes.

Blood-soaked bodies in swimsuits were left scattered among upturned sun loungers in what was the deadliest Islamist attack on westerners since the July 7 London bombings in 2005.

Harrowing footage shows gunman Seifeddine Rezgui running off the beach after the attack near Sousse which killed 38 people, including 30 Britons. The ISIS killer was later shot dead by police in an alleyway

At least 38 people, including 30 Britons, were slaughtered in the attack on June 26 – which was later claimed by ISIS.

Haunting footage of the incident showed Rezgui wandering along the beach with a Kalashnikov in his hand just minutes after he unleashed the attack.

In the footage, the killer could be seen still carrying the assault rifle he used in the horrific killing spree as he turned to sprint up an alley.

He then stopped outside a housing development belonging to Mayel Moncef, 56, and - as bullets rained down on him from rooftop snipers - he dropped to his knees in prayer, allowing a grenade to roll from his hand and into the gutter.

Mr Moncef then picked up a stack of terracotta roof tiles and threw it on Rezgui's head, causing him to stumble. He walked a few yards before the policeman shot him dead.

Witness accounts said Rezgui was seen laughing and joking among the midday bathers, looking like any other tourist.

A man lays flowers on Marhaba beach in Tunisia where 38 people were killed in the terror attack on June 26

But he was actually carefully picking out the victims he would murder with a Kalashnikov hidden in his parasol.

In the murderous rampage on the crowded Tunisian beachfront at El Kantaoui near Sousse, he killed 38 - with 36 seriously wounded. The British were his prime targets.

Thousands of holidaymakers cancelled or altered their holiday plans in the aftermath of the tragedy.

And the Foreign Office still urges British tourists to avoid the North African country, with the terror threat level ranked as very high.