American Schoolteacher Fatally Stabbed In Abu Dhabi Mall
An American schoolteacher working in Abu Dhabi was reportedly stabbed in a mall restroom on Monday by a suspect wearing a full-veiled outfit, known as a niqab.
Surveillance footage from the Bootik Mall, an upscale shopping mall on Reem Island in Abu Dhabi, shows the suspect, wearing a full niqab, face veil and black gloves, entering an elevator. The suspect then appears to ask a security guard where the restroom is before picking up a free newspaper and entering the women's restroom.
The closed circuit video shows that 90 minutes later, the suspect exits the restroom with several other female shoppers running out as well. One person is seen trying to apprehend the suspect as they dash into the elevator and stride out of the shopping center.
Authorities in the Arab Gulf country are reporting that the suspect reportedly stabbed 47-year-old American schoolteacher Ibolya Ryan using a butcher knife. Authorities say the schoolteacher, who is mother to 11-year-old twins, was involved in an altercation with the suspect before being stabbed.
Ryan's family reports that the teacher was reportedly born in Romania but trained to become a teacher in the U.S. The teacher held American citizenship. The children's father, Ryan's ex-husband, is currently traveling to Abu Dhabi to maintain custody of the children.
Authorities in Abu Dhabi now say they are evaluating the surveillance footage and other information to determine the attacker's identity, motive, and gender. The attack comes just weeks after U.S. Embassies in the region warned of potential jihadist attacks on American schools.
According to NBC News, the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi says it is working with "all appropriate authorities" in its investigation of the mall incident.
"There is no information available at this time about the nature of the crime," the embassy added in a statement.
