Terrified Brit backpackers held at gunpoint by masked robbers screaming ‘just kill them’ in Peru’s Amazon jungle
The passengers were advised not to resist the thieves so they didn't get shot
A BRIT backpacker has described the moment six armed men in balaclavas robbed her at gunpoint after boarding her tour bus in a jungle in Peru.
Adella Clarke, 28, was in her first week of a month-long trip through South America with three friends.
The four pals were on a small tour bus travelling to a remote eco lodge in the Amazon jungle when the balaclava-clad gang stormed the bus, carrying 22 passengers.
And terrified Adella, a care assistant from Midsomer Norton, Som., said when one female passenger tried to resist one of the men started yelling “just kill them”.
The attack took place on Sunday at around 3pm local time.
Adella, who is now in Bolivia with Glenn Williamson, Lee Scutcher and James Lott, from Ipswich, Suffolk, said the bus was travelling down a “remote dirt trail”.
BUS TOUR AMBUSH
The bus had been travelling for 30 minutes and their tour guide was telling them about the local wildlife, she said.
“Suddenly the bus came to a halt. I was sitting by a window, there was a lot of shouting in Spanish.
“The bus doors opened and a man in a balaclava came on board. There were six of them stood in the middle of the dirt road pointing guns at the bus.”
She said the driver was urged to drive away, but the tour guide objected in fear that the attackers would shoot if he did, Adella said.
They were shouting ‘Just kill them, just kill them’
Adella Clarke
She continued: “They were each taking it in turns to come on the bus and grab bags. Our tour guide said ‘Just give them what they want. Don’t resist’.
“I had a gun in my face while my friend was having his wallet taken out of his pocket. My other friend had a gun pointed to his head while the bag under him got taken.
“A lady resisted and the tour guide later on said they were shouting ‘Just kill them, just kill them’.”
The ordeal lasted about seven minutes, she says.
We were just waiting in another remote village thinking ‘are they going to come back’, like sitting ducks
Adella
Adella added: “They eventually ran off into the jungle. Everyone was shook up, They were firing shots at locals who tried to help.”
The bus was then driven on to a village where they phoned police.
Adella said: “We were just waiting in another remote village thinking ‘are they going to come back’, like sitting ducks. That was the worst bit.”
‘POLICE GAVE LITTLE INTEREST’
She said the group were “escorted back to the main town by police who gave little interest” and have since been transferred to the capital Lima, but “seriously shaken”.
She praised the response from their travel company G Adventures, saying: “The assistance has been very good.
“They’ve put us up in a nice hotel, they’ve been great about it… provided us with stuff to do and checked in on us.”
And despite the ordeal, the group intend to continue with their trip – travelling to Bolivia today, and then on to Argentina later in the month.
But she said: “We’re not getting buses anymore. This is too much of a shock so we’re going to fly everywhere from now on.
“We did it the right way, through a tour company, to avoid dangers like this but it still happened.”
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