Re: Child-snatching gang dressed as waiters caught luring British kids into cars

by Liz Eagles 20.06.15 10:17

sharonl wrote:
aquila wrote:
sharonl wrote:
aquila wrote:Hotel CCTV?

Holidaymakers with cameras and mobile phones didn't take a photograph of the alleged incident/alleged offender?

Of course.

You see some man trying to lure a kid into his car, You don't rush to the aid of the child or scare of the abductor, you get your camera out and take a few photos for the press?

That wasn't quite what I mean sharonl.

Someone did have a camera and took a video.

Here's an update of the Daily Mail article complete with two videos.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3131606/EXCLUSIVE-s-paedo-Cypriot-hotel-guests-reveal-moment-crowd-angry-British-parents-collared-suspect-accused-trying-snatch-children.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Sorry Aquila

I know what you meant, I was just making a point that reaching for your camera in that situation is not the first thing that any normal person would do? You would do what you could to protect the children first.

Nuno Lorenco managed it.

by **sharonl** 20.06.15 10:24

What the Cypriot Government has to say about these events

Child-snatching gang dressed as waiters caught luring British kids into cars - Page 3 Screen11

Child-snatching gang dressed as waiters caught luring British kids into cars - Page 3 Screen11

Child-snatching gang dressed as waiters caught luring British kids into cars - Page 3 Screen12

by **sharonl** 20.06.15 10:45

aquila wrote:
sharonl wrote:
aquila wrote:
sharonl wrote:
aquila wrote:Hotel CCTV?

Holidaymakers with cameras and mobile phones didn't take a photograph of the alleged incident/alleged offender?

Of course.

You see some man trying to lure a kid into his car, You don't rush to the aid of the child or scare of the abductor, you get your camera out and take a few photos for the press?

That wasn't quite what I mean sharonl.

Someone did have a camera and took a video.

Here's an update of the Daily Mail article complete with two videos.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3131606/EXCLUSIVE-s-paedo-Cypriot-hotel-guests-reveal-moment-crowd-angry-British-parents-collared-suspect-accused-trying-snatch-children.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Sorry Aquila

I know what you meant, I was just making a point that reaching for your camera in that situation is not the first thing that any normal person would do? You would do what you could to protect the children first.

Nuno Lorenco managed it.

Oh yes, so he did, but I did say

"reaching for your camera in that situation is not the first thing that any normal person would do."

by **PeterMac** 20.06.15 11:44

sharonl wrote:What the Cypriot Government has to say about these events

here is the text, easier to read !

HIGH COMMISSION FOR THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS 13 St. James’s Square, London SW1Y 4LB Tel: 020 7321 4100 Fax: 020 7321 4164/5 E-mail: cyphclondon@btconnect.com
Statement on recent media reports on an alleged child abduction incident in Cyprus

We have been following various media reports in the UK regarding the alleged child abduction case at the Anastasia Beach Hotel in Cyprus. We fully appreciate the concerns of parents regarding the safety of their children. The allegations are taken seriously by the authorities in Cyprus.
The Police responded rapidly to complaints made by British nationals that an unknown man was taking pictures and approaching children at the hotel grounds.
The individual, a 19 year old foreign national, was taken into custody for questioning. He has been living in Cyprus with his parents for the past few years and has no police record. His mobile phone, personal computer and home were thoroughly searched by the Police and nothing incriminating or suspicious was found.
The Police also took statements from the British parents who filed the complaint, as well as from the children themselves. Their statements did not corroborate the allegations concerning a possible abduction plan on the part of the said foreign national.
All allegations were duly examined and no evidence was found to support them.

The various press reports in the UK alleging a planned abduction of children from the hotel by a group of foreign nationals are, therefore, unsubstantiated. In view of the fact that due process has been followed, the Cyprus government considers that the news stories in the UK media do not reflect the facts, thus unfairly tarnishing the good reputation of Cyprus.
The Cyprus Government has excellent co-operation with the competent British authorities in many fields, including crime and justice affairs. The Cyprus Police has been in continuous contact and is cooperating with the British High Commission in Cyprus regarding this matter.
Cyprus is a hospitable holiday destination that receives almost 2.5 million visitors a year. It is a family friendly destination with one of the lowest crime-rates in the EU and across the world and continues to be one of the safest tourist destinations. 19 June 2015

http://www.mfa.gov.cy/mfa/HighCom/london.nsf/All/A34EF21424A22DE780257E69004EBCE9/$file/STATEMENT%20ON%20AN%20ALLEGED%20CHILD%20ABDUCTION%20INCIDENT%20IN%20CYPRUS.pdf

And as someone on the donation site has said,

Meanwhile: The McCanns’ spokesman Clarence Mitchell told the Daily Star: "The question of whether child traffickers were involved in Madeleine’s abduction was always one line of investigation among many. If there is any suggestion of a connection between this incident and others in the wider European region than that is a matter for Operation Grange to investigate and to liaise with the Cypriot authorities."

How does this professional liar get away with it ?[/quote]

by jeanmonroe 20.06.15 11:56

The 'child snatching GYPSY PAEDO'S' are BACK!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3131606/EXCLUSIVE-s-paedo-Cypriot-hotel-guests-reveal-moment-crowd-angry-British-parents-collared-suspect-accused-trying-snatch-children.html

A witness said worried families then descended on him, shouting: 'That's the paedo.'

Another man is believed to have run off in the melee after also being accused of being a paedophile.

A British guest at the Anastasia Beach Complex told MailOnline: 'My friend said this 'gypsy' had put his arms around his son in the pool earlier that afternoon. His wife shouted the man out.

'Later we were outside by the pool having a drink and the wife was crying, saying the gypsy was back in the foyer.

'My friend ran in and punched him a few times, hard. The man was shocked and scared.

'My friend was screaming: "You had your arms around my kid in the pool". He was just scared for his kid. He did what any dad would do.'

'Then loads of people rushed into the foyer, saying "that's the paedo".

Another guest said: 'I can't knock someone for hitting him if they thought he was a paedo. Another guy legged it because he was also accused of being a paedo.'

British tourist Greg Letford, 28, claimed the suspects – who are believed to be Eastern European – had been filming the children and swimming with them in the pool for about a week while pretending to be hotel employees.

Tony Blackhurst, 47, a butcher from Southport, who was holidaying with his wife and nine-year-old daughter, said: 'At first I thought it was a fight going on in the hotel.

'There was a lot of noise and commotion and then I heard there'd been an alleged attempt to abduct someone.

'My wife saw the suspect. She said she'd never seen anyone move so fast out the window.'

However, another Briton, who did not wish to be named, said he thought the case had been 'blown out of all proportion'.

He said: 'Something must’ve happened but I think people got it out of all proportion. It was Chinese whispers, a lot of rumours.

'[The Bulgarian] looked terrified, he was cowering. He looked like a young kid, about 18 or 19. I didn’t see him punched. The crowd was tipsy but not really drunk because it wasn’t that late.

'I got involved because I thought it was a paedophile. I’d had a few drinks. But I woke up in the morning and thought it was blown out of all proportion. I can’t knock someone for hitting him if they thought he was a paedo. Another guy legged it because he was also accused of being a paedo.'
-------------------------------------------------------------------

"had been filming the children and swimming with them in the pool for about a WEEK while pretending to be hotel employees."

BUT, NOT 'attacked' until the Thursday?
---------------------------------------------------------------
Another guest said: 'I can't knock someone for hitting him if they THOUGHT he was a paedo.

'I got involved because I THOUGHT it was a paedophile. I’d had a few drinks.
-----------------------------------------------------

So, you only have to 'THINK' someone's a 'paedophile' to 'justify' attacking them?

(Won't be many MP's walking around Westminster, next week, without 'bruises', if that's the 'case', imo)

Good job there wasn't a 'Paediatricians' convention, taking place at that hotel!

They'd have had 'the cr*p beaten out of them' by 'Wayne and Waynetta'!
--------------------------------

'I got involved because I thought it was a paedophile. I’d had a few drinks. But I woke up in the morning and thought it was blown out of all proportion. I can’t knock someone for hitting him if they thought he was a paedo. Another guy legged it because he was also accused of being a paedo.'
----------------------

Now, Mr Briton, are you 'SURE' it was a 'paedo', only you don't 'say' so, often enough!

by jeanmonroe 20.06.15 12:07

The McCanns’ spokesman Clarence Mitchell told the Daily Star: "The question of whether child traffickers were involved in Madeleine’s abduction was always one line of investigation among many."
-------------------------------------------
What i want, what i really, really, want, is to 'know' WHAT the OTHER 'lines' of 'MANY' OG are 'investigating'!

Thought there WAS only 'ONE'? ('line' of 'investigation')

OG's 'REMIT'?

"THE 'abduction'! (pre-planned, by a 'stranger'!)

Now, thanks to Clarrie, we 'know' there ARE 'many' lines, of investigation.

Thankyou Mr Mitchell.

Madeleine's Fund 'fraud'?

McS possible 'involvement' in 'disappearance'? (PJ 'line' of 'investigation')

jta: So Mitchell 'knows' Madeleine 'WAS abducted' then?

(Can't 'remember Mitchell actually 'being in' PDL, 3rd May 2007, to 'witness' the 'abduction' of Madeleine, so how does he 'know' Madeleine 'was abducted'? DUH ME! 'somebody' TOLD him! Now WHO could that have been?))

Even his 'friend', J Gamble, will NOT dare, 'say' THAT!

Perhaps Mitchell should 'reveal' his 'information/knowledge' about Madeleine's 'abduction' to the Portuguese/UK police!

The 'things' people 'say/leak' eh?

THX, Clarrie!

by worriedmum 20.06.15 12:21

'Confusion is good'...

by lj 20.06.15 15:25

by Liz Eagles 20.06.15 15:29

lj wrote:

by **sharonl** 20.06.15 20:46

Thomas Cook says ‘conflicting’ reports over hotel incident (update 3)
June 18th, 2015 Cyprus 192 Comments
Child-snatching gang dressed as waiters caught luring British kids into cars - Page 3 Anastasia-670jjwpu0dc3iwfxqe810lek4rjg739q49v2fsw8e2q

Cyprus

http://cyprus-mail.com/2015/06/18/police-deny-attempted-abduction/
[*]
By Constantinos Psillides
Tour operator Thomas Cook said on Thursday it had moved 16 customer bookings, or around 50 people, to another hotel and had assisted two families to return early to the UK after a furore over an alleged near abduction of three children at a Protaras hotel on Tuesday.
After investigations, police denied any such incident had taken place, and though they brought one man in for questioning for allegedly filming children in and around the hotel, nothing incriminating was found on his phone or at his home that suggested he belonged a child abduction ring as claimed by a number of tourists at the hotel.
Although earlier in the day Thomas Cook rushed to reassure its clients and offered to relocate them, in a later announcement on Thursday, the company said it was working closely with the Anastasia Beach Hotel, and local authorities.
“Although there are conflicting reports as to what exactly occurred at the property, we would like to reassure all customers that we take all allegations incredibly seriously and we are continuing to work closely with our customers in resort and the local authorities,” the Thomas Cook statement said.
On request, the company assisted 16 customer bookings who wished to move to an alternative hotel and two families who travelled back to the UK early. But the company said it continued to offer holidays to the Anastasia, though it had requested increased security. “Thomas Cook continues to offer holidays to the Anastasia Beach and the island of Cyprus, where customers are continuing to enjoy their holidays with us,” the company said.
Police on Thursday denied the attempted kidnap of three young children from the hotel as British newspapers hyped up the story with headlines as ‘Holiday Hell’.
British press reported that on Tuesday night a gang of three Romanians tried to lure three children into vans. They reported that the gang were disguised as hotel waiters to blend in and that they had been stalking children for the past week by filming them around the pool, and taking pictures.
The reports says that their plan was foiled at the last minute by a tourist who saw the three gang members escorting the children to a van while another child was ready to be abducted.
Realising what was going on, the tourists seized a man and a woman and took them to the hotel’s foyer where they called police. The report says that a second man fled the scene and that the holidaymakers heard a car crash not far from the hotel.
A statement from the Anastasia Beach Hotel said one of the guests on 16 June, around 8.30pm informed reception that a non resident was filming and taking pictures around the adult entertainment area. Hotel security went to the location and escorted the man to the hotel manager’s office and police were called.
Police deputy spokesperson Nikoletta Tyrimou told the Cyprus Mail that the incident had been blown completely out of proportion.
“We have been receiving calls all day. I do not know how many ways more I can find to say this: It did not happen that way,” stressed Tyrimou, clarifying that police made one not two arrests and that there was no getaway car or people in disguise stalking children.
“Famagusta district police were indeed notified on Tuesday of an incident that took place at the Anastasia Hotel. Upon arriving at the scene, police officers arrested a 19-year-old man from Bulgaria who holidaymakers said had been filming their children and was trying to abduct them.
“We questioned the suspect, went through his phone and also searched his home. Nothing we found suggests that he is part of a child-abducting gang or that he was stalking children. The footage on his phone showed tourists partying and no children.
He has since been released while police take statements from all those present at the scene. The investigation is still ongoing but I assure you that it did not happen the way it was reported in the press,” she said.
A second statement issued by the Police Press and Information office later, said the tour operator contacted the police following the arrest of the 19-year-old and asked for a police presence in the hotel.
“Police did return to the scene and talked with the tourists but not find anything that confirmed their initial suspicions. Both the tour operator and the British High Commission offices on the island were notified of the process and the investigation findings and expressed their full satisfaction with the handling of the incident by the police,” said the second statement.
“The only shots on the video were exclusively adult persons and in no way depicted children,” the statement said.

by Guest 20.06.15 21:14

MBM PR machine back in full swing.

by lj 20.06.15 23:24

Yep, and they need it after Kate's bicycle disaster.

by **sharonl** 20.06.15 23:43

Protaras child ‘kidnap’ turns into U.K. media frenzy
June 19th, 2015 Cyprus 109 Comments
Child-snatching gang dressed as waiters caught luring British kids into cars - Page 3 Anastasia-670jjwpu0dc3iwfxqe810lek4rjg739q49v2fsw8e2q

Cyprus

[*]
[*]
[*]

Some involved apologised to the hotel staff
By Constantinos Psillides
BRITISH media reporting on the alleged attempted kidnapping of three youngsters at a Protaras hotel, “has been completely blown out of proportion and it’s all wrong,” an eyewitness has told the Cyprus Mail, as others now believe they “over-reacted” after hearing rumours and “Chinese whispers” that a child kidnap gang was in action.
The incident took place on Tuesday, when guests at a wedding party held at Anastasia hotel in Protaras attacked a Bulgarian man after they apparently thought he had been trying to kidnap their children. Subsequent press reports claimed the alleged abduction attempt had been the work of a gang that had been planning it for days.
Delivery driver from Glasgow James Hagan, 54, dismissed the reports and claimed some of the people involved acknowledged having gone “overboard and over-reacting”, and apologised to the hotel staff.
“There were lots of crazy stories about things that never happened,” he told the Cyprus Mail.
“There was definitely no kidnap attempt. Some of those involved told me later ‘we went overboard’. Some apologised to staff later, saying they over-reacted.”
Another tourist, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that while he wasn’t part of the wedding party that was taking place at the hotel at the time, he witnessed what happened firsthand.
“At some point we heard a large commotion and screams. Somebody attacked a young man yelling ‘Paedophile! Paedophile!’ and then suddenly a group of around 50 people were chasing him,” he said.
“We joined them and chased two people to the front desk, a man and a woman. Police came and took the young man in custody – a 19-year-old Bulgarian — but let the woman go because it turned out that she had nothing to do with the incident; she just happened to be there.”
“That’s what really happened, nothing more,” said the holidaymaker, adding that he was appalled after reading wildly exaggerated news reports on the story.
A Sheffield couple, who are friends with the man who chased and punched the Bulgarian, offered a similar account.
“My friend said this ‘gypsy’ had put his arms around his 7-year-old son in the pool earlier that afternoon,” the couple said.
“His wife shouted the man out, but later she saw him back in the foyer. [My friend] ran in and punched him a few times, hard, shouting ‘You had your arms around my kid in the pool’. He wasn’t shouting anything about kidnap gangs.”
But then, the couple recalled, “loads of people rushed into the foyer, saying ‘that’s the paedo’.”
British media reported that a gang of three persons – two men and one woman, all Romanians – were filming kids and trying to lure them away to a pick-up truck, and that their attempt was foiled at the last minute by a passerby.
The third gang member supposedly left in a getaway car which crashed a short while after leaving the hotel.
“It was Chinese whispers, a lot of rumours,” another eyewitness said.
“[In the foyer, the Bulgarian] looked terrified, he was cowering. I didn’t see him get punched.”
It was also reported that the gang was 18-person strong and that the Romanians where stalking children throughout the week, posing as hotel waiters.
“We saw nothing suspicious all the time we were here and there’s absolutely no truth to the story some of these people were dressed up as waiters,” Hagan said.
“They said that child snatchers were posing as hotel staff. That’s completely ridiculous, I have no idea where they got that from,” the anonymous holidaymaker confirmed.
“I also noticed that some have been connecting this incident to the Madeleine case. That is both wrong and disrespectful,” stressed the holidaymaker, referring to the famous case of then three-year old Madeleine McCann who disappeared from her room while holidaying with her family in a holiday resort in Portugal in 2007.
“I really don’t think there’s a child-trafficking gang in the area, and it’s shameful for the Mirror to bring up Madeleine McCann,” another Briton said.
Tony Blackhurst, a 47-year-old self-employed butcher from Southport, in Cyprus with his wife and 9-year-old daughter, said that while he wasn’t sure what had happened, he and his family still enjoyed their stay.
“A lot of people were blaming the [hotel] staff and Thomas Cook for the security but I feel they were very good throughout and did everything they could,” he said.
“They were very helpful, offering to move families to different hotels if they wanted. They offered to put us in a five-star hotel, which is an upgrade – as this is a four-star. We didn’t want to move because my daughter’s made friends at the hotel and didn’t want to go. We’ve still enjoyed our stay.”
Meanwhile, a source close to the investigation told the Cyprus Mail that the parents of the 19-year old Bulgarian that was arrested are employed by the company that owns Anastasia Beach hotel, Tsokkos Hotels.
The 19-year old apparently spent a lot of time in the hotel, frequenting the pool area.
The source said that on the 19-year-old’s phone, police found four pictures, none of which depicted children.
“They were pictures of a hotel show. We went through the suspect’s phone, we searched his house thoroughly and found absolutely nothing to suggest that he was a paedophile or a kidnapper, or that he was part of a gang.”
Police have repeatedly rejected claims of child abduction.
The government also entered the fray, rejecting the reports as “unnecessary and unsubstantiated.”
“The government wishes to emphatically stress that Cyprus was and remains one of the safest tourist destinations worldwide, both for locals and foreign visitors and their children,” deputy government spokesman Victoras Papadopoulos said on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Cyprus High Commission in London issued a statement stressing that the police investigation into the allegations produced nothing incriminating.
The statement notes that the concerns of parents regarding the safety of their children are fully appreciated and that the allegations were taken seriously by the authorities in Cyprus.
It added that police statements taken from the British parents who filed the complaint, as well as from the children themselves did not corroborate the allegations.
Therefore, the High Commission describes the various press reports in the UK alleging a planned abduction of children as “unsubstantiated.”
“The news stories in the UK media do not reflect the facts, thus unfairly tarnishing the good reputation of Cyprus”, continued the statement.
(Additional reporting by special correspondent in Protaras)

by Doug D 21.06.15 0:12

BlueBag:

‘MBM PR machine back in full swing.’

And why could that possibly be I wonder?

Nothing to do with a bit of potentially game-changing information that has come to light in the last couple of days and which has now run to 48 pages on this forum alone?

by Mark Willis 21.06.15 7:24

by jeanmonroe 21.06.15 15:30

Another guest said: 'I can't knock someone for hitting him if they THOUGHT he was a paedo.

'I got involved because I THOUGHT it was a paedophile. I’d had a few drinks.
----------------------------------------------------------
So, can all the 'chaps' who 'joined' in the 'assault' on a chap they THOUGHT was a 'paedo' be charged with 'assault/ABH/GBH'?

It's not like noboby dosen't know their 'names'.

They've all been 'eager' to give 'interviews/TV appearances/be photographed'

'Kevin' on GMB was 'full face' to camera, during his 'interview', but wanted his SURNAME to be 'witheld'!

(presumably, so no-one would 'know' it was him!)

WTF?

Anyway, could the 'assailants' be 'charged' with 'anything'?

By Cypriot Police, 'if' the 'chap' puts in a official 'complaint'?

Not saying, just asking.

by **PeterMac** 21.06.15 17:35

jeanmonroe wrote:
Anyway, could the 'assailants' be 'charged' with 'anything'?
By Cypriot Police, 'if' the 'chap' puts in a official 'complaint'?

When the Madeleine case is finalised there will be many cases to be sorted out.
It is rumoured that GA is going actively to sue the Mccanns and others, apart from Appealing against the decision in the instant case
If it is shown that there was no abduction , then TB is surely entitled at least to another hearing - and possibly to exemplary and punitive dmaages
both from the McCanns and the law firm who pursued him so relentlessly in the full knowledge that they had no evidence to put before the court
Then anyone who has been arrested, or forced to sit for interview as 'arguido' in Portugal
The Pope might forgive them, one supposes, but then again might not since his entire Establishment has been brought into disrepute.
And so on

by Rogue-a-Tory 22.06.15 10:58

It was just like Madeleine McCann - nope it was exactly like Madeleine McCann

There was no abduction, no paedophiles, no evidence of anything apart from a group of rowdy boozed up chav rats spouting a whole load of nonsense. Yep just like Madeleine, except there wasn't a pink peril to spin the fictional story around MSM for the next 8 years.

by Joss 22.06.15 11:02

Rogue-a-Tory wrote:It was just like Madeleine McCann - nope it was exactly like Madeleine McCann

There was no abduction, no paedophiles, no evidence of anything apart from a group of rowdy boozed up chav rats spouting a whole load of nonsense. Yep just like Madeleine, except there wasn't a pink peril to spin the fictional story around MSM for the next 8 years.

Exactly.

by willowthewisp 22.06.15 11:21

Perhaps Sonia Poulton could interview the Pink Peril?

by jeanmonroe 24.06.15 2:04

Child-snatching gang dressed as waiters caught luring British kids into cars - Page 3 Maddie10

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/449863/New-Maddie-snatch-horror-Brit-hols-resort

New Maddie snatch horror at Brit hols resort: Dad tells of 'pervs' at hotel

A DAD has revealed how his family holiday was plagued by a Madeleine McCann style child snatch gang

By Jerry ('mutter from the gutter') Lawton.

Published 24th June 2015

FEARS: Gary Elton with his daughter Ella and the holiday resort [TOM MADDICK/NEWSTEAM & THOMAS COOK]

Gary Elton, 33, said men took photos of children at the Anastasia Beach Complex in Protaras, Cyprus.

Thomas Cook moved 50 Brits out of the hotel last week after they complained a 10-strong gang had tried to lure away three youngsters.

But Mr Elton was so alarmed he complained to the hotel manager, holiday rep and tour operator Thomas Cook following his trip there three years ago with wife Nicola, 33, and their children Ella, five, and 10-week-old Jayden.

The road worker, from Clay Cross, Derbyshire, said: “It is unbelievable that they just swept this under the carpet.

“On our second day the rep informed us there had been a report of a sexual assault in the lift but we were assured it had been dealt with.

“A couple of days later we noticed a man messing around with children in and around the pool. It is just worrying that they clearly ignored this.

“When we read what happened last week we immediately rang Thomas Cook to tell them about our complaint from 2012.’’

Thomas Cook said it was looking into the case Cyprus.
------------------------------------------------------

So, THREE YEARS AGO!

How many kids were ACTUALLY 'snatched' from that hotel, WHEN Mr Elton was 'there', and how many kids have been 'snatched' from that hotel, in the THREE YEARS 'since' Mr Elton, was 'there'?

I'm pretty 'sure' i'd have 'heard' about any.

I DIDN'T!

Methinks, 'Daddy, daddy, are we zlebs, now? Do you think we will get a 'freebie' TC 'holiday' out of 'this', like Maddie's family and friends did, with MW, in Portugal'?

DAD "MY 'MADDIE' GRAB HELL'!

So, the 'dad's' child was also called 'Maddie'!

"Dad, how long do i have to pretend, and be called, 'Maddie'?

"Until the cheque from The Star 'clears'.......... Maddie'!

by Liz Eagles 24.06.15 2:13

Snipped from the Daily Star article - subheading.

A DAD has revealed how his family holiday was plagued by a Madeleine McCann style child snatch gang

This is the message folks. This is the one being put out by MSM.

ETA: I can't also help thinking someone has it in for Thomas Cook.

by jeanmonroe 24.06.15 2:32

aquila wrote:Snipped from the Daily Star article - subheading.

A DAD has revealed how his family holiday was plagued by a Madeleine McCann style child snatch gang

This is the message folks. This is the one being put out by MSM.

ETA: I can't also help thinking someone has it in for Thomas Cook.

I'm pretty 'sure' they'll 'snap' TC's 'hand off' if TC 'offered' them 'a 'freebie' holiday, even at THAT 'hotel', don't you?

by willowthewisp 24.06.15 10:33

How do the morons at these papers survive producing the verbiage of S---e?
They really must think the people in the UK have a low IQ or are a type of mushroom(kept in the dark and fed on s**t)?
I know lets put some gorgeous woman in as well, scantily clad for the lads(sorry ladies, but as they say Sex sells) must be male proprietors? tease

by **PeterMac** 24.06.15 10:53

http://cyprus-mail.com/2015/06/23/our-view-too-little-too-late-in-countering-damage-caused-by-british-press/

Our View: Too little too late in countering damage caused by British press
JUNE 23RD, 2015

THERE are two things Cyprus as a holiday destination has very little control over. The first is the propensity of visitors to our shores to drink alcohol. The second is the British media’s ingrained resistance to letting the truth get in the way of a good story.

But the authorities’ tardy and totally inadequate response to last week’s hysterical accounts in the British media about an alleged child abduction attempt by three Romanians led to a PR disaster. The allegations should have been quashed by a swift presentation of the facts. Instead the authorities, caught totally off guard, allowed the rumours to spiral out of control for days.

The incident took place last Tuesday night when a furious group of British tourists who had been drinking challenged a young Bulgarian at their Protaras hotel. They believed he had been acting suspiciously towards children and had filmed them. The young man was attacked before the police arrived.

By Wednesday morning the police had carried out an investigation, checked the man’s phone, laptop and apartment, and were totally satisfied that nothing untoward had happened. They issued a statement to that effect. But the story had already taken on a life of its own. Contacted by some of the tourists involved in the incident, the British press reported that a group of three Romanians was involved and one had been seen leading away up to three children.

By Friday morning the story had been covered by the BBC, Sky News, all the tabloid press and most broadsheets. Some, but not all, included the police’s increasingly frustrated denials. This Morning, a top TV morning chat show, invited viewers to phone in with their concerns about taking their families on holiday to Cyprus. There were poisonous comments on Twitter.

Although the story had been gathering momentum since Wednesday, it took until Friday morning before the government issued its own denial of the media’s version of events. It was a well-written statement — but it was two days too late, as was the one from the Cypriot High Commission in London. The police’s statement, although issued on Wednesday, was available only in Greek, so was their Facebook post. The Protaras mayor also spoke out well but again far too late. The Cyprus Tourism Organisation was silent. All of this allowed the version of events presented by a small group of tourists, fuelled by alcohol, Chinese whispers and genuine concern for their children cause untold damage to Cyprus’ reputation as a family friendly and very safe holiday destination.

The answer is clear. Some of the money spent on tourism advertising campaigns should be urgently diverted to employ pro-active, social media-savvy PR personnel. They must be available to handle late-night media deadlines, working beyond government office hours.
After the damage was done, other tourists at the hotel came forward and confirmed the police’s version of events. Some of the British media did the required volte face, but for others it was already yesterday’s news — and was duly ignored. Unfortunately, Cyprus has to live with the consequences.

by Liz Eagles 24.06.15 11:13

I was tempted to buy Desmond's book until this latest headline garbage - he'll have to get the £13.60 off Jerry Lawton now. big grin

by Guest 24.06.15 12:11

[quote="willowthewisp"]How do the morons at these papers survive producing the verbiage of S---e?
They really must think the people in the UK have a low IQ or are a type of mushroom(kept in the dark and fed on s**t)?
I know lets put some gorgeous woman in as well, scantily clad for the lads(sorry ladies, but as they say Sex sells) must be male proprietors? tease

[/quote]

=================================

Maybe these producers are right in what they think

by Gaggzy 24.06.15 12:18

jeanmonroe wrote:

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/449863/New-Maddie-snatch-horror-Brit-hols-resort

New Maddie snatch horror at Brit hols resort: Dad tells of 'pervs' at hotel

A DAD has revealed how his family holiday was plagued by a Madeleine McCann style child snatch gang

By Jerry ('mutter from the gutter') Lawton.

Published 24th June 2015

FEARS: Gary Elton with his daughter Ella and the holiday resort [TOM MADDICK/NEWSTEAM & THOMAS COOK]

Gary Elton, 33, said men took photos of children at the Anastasia Beach Complex in Protaras, Cyprus.

Thomas Cook moved 50 Brits out of the hotel last week after they complained a 10-strong gang had tried to lure away three youngsters.

But Mr Elton was so alarmed he complained to the hotel manager, holiday rep and tour operator Thomas Cook following his trip there three years ago with wife Nicola, 33, and their children Ella, five, and 10-week-old Jayden.

The road worker, from Clay Cross, Derbyshire, said: “It is unbelievable that they just swept this under the carpet.

“On our second day the rep informed us there had been a report of a sexual assault in the lift but we were assured it had been dealt with.

“A couple of days later we noticed a man messing around with children in and around the pool. It is just worrying that they clearly ignored this.

“When we read what happened last week we immediately rang Thomas Cook to tell them about our complaint from 2012.’’

Thomas Cook said it was looking into the case Cyprus.
------------------------------------------------------

So, THREE YEARS AGO!

How many kids were ACTUALLY 'snatched' from that hotel, WHEN Mr Elton was 'there', and how many kids have been 'snatched' from that hotel, in the THREE YEARS 'since' Mr Elton, was 'there'?

I'm pretty 'sure' i'd have 'heard' about any.

I DIDN'T!

Methinks, 'Daddy, daddy, are we zlebs, now? Do you think we will get a 'freebie' TC 'holiday' out of 'this', like Maddie's family and friends did, with MW, in Portugal'?

DAD "MY 'MADDIE' GRAB HELL'!

So, the 'dad's' child was also called 'Maddie'!

"Dad, how long do i have to pretend, and be called, 'Maddie'?

"Until the cheque from The Star 'clears'.......... Maddie'!

Garbage such as this 'story' is just one of the reasons why I stopped buying newspapers more than 10 years ago!

by Liz Eagles 24.06.15 12:36

@Gaggzy,

I read a reader's comment in the Daily Mail the other day that tickled me. It was along the lines of:

Only trust two things in a newspaper - its title and the price. Even the date can be wrong.

by lj 24.06.15 16:06

Gaggzy wrote:
jeanmonroe wrote:

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/449863/New-Maddie-snatch-horror-Brit-hols-resort

New Maddie snatch horror at Brit hols resort: Dad tells of 'pervs' at hotel

A DAD has revealed how his family holiday was plagued by a Madeleine McCann style child snatch gang

By Jerry ('mutter from the gutter') Lawton.

Published 24th June 2015

FEARS: Gary Elton with his daughter Ella and the holiday resort [TOM MADDICK/NEWSTEAM & THOMAS COOK]

Gary Elton, 33, said men took photos of children at the Anastasia Beach Complex in Protaras, Cyprus.

Thomas Cook moved 50 Brits out of the hotel last week after they complained a 10-strong gang had tried to lure away three youngsters.

But Mr Elton was so alarmed he complained to the hotel manager, holiday rep and tour operator Thomas Cook following his trip there three years ago with wife Nicola, 33, and their children Ella, five, and 10-week-old Jayden.

The road worker, from Clay Cross, Derbyshire, said: “It is unbelievable that they just swept this under the carpet.

“On our second day the rep informed us there had been a report of a sexual assault in the lift but we were assured it had been dealt with.

“A couple of days later we noticed a man messing around with children in and around the pool. It is just worrying that they clearly ignored this.

“When we read what happened last week we immediately rang Thomas Cook to tell them about our complaint from 2012.’’

Thomas Cook said it was looking into the case Cyprus.
------------------------------------------------------

So, THREE YEARS AGO!

How many kids were ACTUALLY 'snatched' from that hotel, WHEN Mr Elton was 'there', and how many kids have been 'snatched' from that hotel, in the THREE YEARS 'since' Mr Elton, was 'there'?

I'm pretty 'sure' i'd have 'heard' about any.

I DIDN'T!

Methinks, 'Daddy, daddy, are we zlebs, now? Do you think we will get a 'freebie' TC 'holiday' out of 'this', like Maddie's family and friends did, with MW, in Portugal'?

DAD "MY 'MADDIE' GRAB HELL'!

So, the 'dad's' child was also called 'Maddie'!

"Dad, how long do i have to pretend, and be called, 'Maddie'?

"Until the cheque from The Star 'clears'.......... Maddie'!

Garbage such as this 'story' is just one of the reasons why I stopped buying newspapers more than 10 years ago!

If the tourist industry in Cyprus is smart they should sue all newspapers who carried/is carrying the story.

Silencing McCann style.

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