American woman killed in mystery UAE mall restroom stabbing, police say
By Nicola Goulding and Laura Smith-Spark, CNN
December 3, 2014 -- Updated 1552 GMT (2352 HKT)
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| CCTV footage from the Boutik mall shows the suspect -- covered in a black abaya -- in the stabbing of a U.S. woman. |
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (CNN) -- An American
woman has died after being stabbed by an unknown attacker in the
restroom of a high-end mall in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab
Emirates, police said.
The 37-year-old woman,
whom police did not name, was taken to the hospital after the attack
Monday on Reem Island but died of her injuries.
She 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.
The woman 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.
The cause of the fight remains unknown and the suspect fled the scene immediately after committing the crime, he said.
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Authorities seek witnesses, clues
Police have appealed for help tracking down the killer.
"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.
.
Embassy working with UAE authorities
The U.S. Embassy in Abu
Dhabi said it was "working with all the appropriate authorities to seek
further information" about the killing of a U.S. citizen.
"We offer our
condolences to those affected by this terrible tragedy," a spokesman
said in an earlier 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.
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Video shows suspect
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.
CNN's Nicola Goulding reported from Abu Dhabi and Laura Smith-Spark wrote in London.
