ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — A woman in the United Arab Emirates has been arrested in connection with Monday’s fatal stabbing of an American woman at an Abu Dhabi mall, Unite Arab Emirates Interior Minister Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan said Thursday.
The American victim, identified as 47-year-old Ibolya Ryan, was taken to the hospital after the being attacked in the restroom of a high-end mall in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE. She was taken to a hospital, but died of her injuries.
Surveillance video has been posted to YouTube. Some of it is graphic.
Ryan worked as a schoolteacher and had 11-year-old twins who are being cared for by authorities until their father, the victim’s ex-husband, arrives from abroad, police said.
Ryan was stabbed with a sharp tool, later recovered by police, after a fight broke out in the women’s restroom, according to Col. Dr. Rashid Mohammad Borshid, head of the Criminal Investigation Department of Abu Dhabi Police.
Police appealed for help tracking down the killer, which was initially made difficult due to the suspect wearing an abaya.
“Investigations are still under way to identify the suspect’s identity and gender,” a police statement Tuesday said. “Witnesses reported that the culprit was fully covered wearing an abaya, black gloves and face cover (niqab).”
The abaya is a black, full length gown traditionally worn by local Emirati women. The suspect was also wearing a hijab, or headscarf.
A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in the UAE said it had seen reports concerning the killing but could give no further details.
“We offer our condolences to those affected by this terrible tragedy,” the spokesman said in a statement. “The safety and welfare of U.S. citizens abroad is one of the Department of State’s highest priorities. We stand ready to provide all possible consular assistance.”
The attack happened at the Boutik mall on Reem Island, a newly developed area of Abu Dhabi where many Western expatriates live.
CCTV footage released by police shows the suspect, fully covered, walking calmly in through the parking lot entrance, speaking to security guards, picking up a paper and disappearing around the corner out of sight.
It then shows the suspect running to the elevator, followed by others, and getting into the elevator, before another clip shows the person leaving the mall through the same parking lot doors.
Violent crime in the UAE is rare and eyewitnesses have expressed shock at the incident.
“The Abu Dhabi Police will spare no effort in order to unveil this heinous crime and bring the culprit to justice,” said Borshid.