Armed robbers strike top tourist attraction in Jamaica

Thursday, February 12, 2004

OCHO RIOS, Jamaica: Armed thieves made off with thousands of dollars and shot a security guard during a robbery at Jamaica's best known tourist attraction.

According to Britain's Press Association, no tourists were harmed during Tuesday's hold-up at the Dunn's River Falls park outside the resort town of Ocho Rios, police said, without saying how many tourists were present.

The park, which draws several hundred visitors daily, was preparing to close when two men and a woman pulled guns and robbed the ticket office of more than US$10,000.

The trio also robbed two security guards of their firearms, shooting one in the arm before escaping in a waiting car. The security guard was treated at a hospital and released.

Police later arrested three men.

The robbery comes as Jamaican officials are trying to attract more visitors to the Caribbean island following a global travel downturn caused by the September 11 attacks.

The park is Jamaica's most popular attraction, drawing hundreds of visitors daily.

Tuesday's incident came two weeks after another apparent robbery attempt at the park was foiled when the suspected thieves got into an argument that resulted in one being shot and killed. 

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