BULLETIN: U.S. Kindergarten Teacher Killed In Mall Restroom In Abu Dhabi Month After Jihadist Advisory By U.S. Embassy; Suspect Described As ‘Ghost’
Suspect in killing shown in a common area of the mall. Source: Abu Dhabi police video from CCTV.
BULLETIN: A 37-year-old American kindergarten teacher and mother of 11-year-old twins died in a hospital Monday after being stabbed in a Reem Island mall restroom in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the Abu Dhabi emirate in the United Arab Emirates.
The attack followed an Oct. 29 warning by the U.S. Embassy “of a recent anonymous posting on a Jihadist website that encouraged attacks against teachers at American and other international schools in the Middle East.”
Whether investigators suspect Jihadist ties to the attack was not immediately clear.
Abu Dhabi police have released a video showing the suspect. Whether the individual was a woman or a man dressed as a woman could not immediately be determined. Police are seeking the assistance of the public in identifying the suspect, dubbed the “Reem Island Ghost.”
“Witnesses reported that the culprit was fully covered wearing an abaya, black gloves and face cover (Niqab),” Abu Dhabi police said in a statement.
Police released a video showing the suspect in public areas. Video frames also show the attack area and an image of what might be the murder weapon.
“The Abu Dhabi Police will spare no effort in order to unveil this heinous crime and bring the culprit to justice,” said Colonel Dr. Rashid Mohammad Borshid in a statement.
Possible weapon used in Abu Dhabi restroom attack. Source: Abu Dhabi police video.
From a statement today by the U.S. Embassy:
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On December 1, a U.S. citizen was killed in a public restroom at a shopping mall on Reem Island in Abu Dhabi. The U.S. Embassy is working with all the appropriate authorities to seek further information. While there is no information available at this time about the nature of this crime, we use this opportunity to remind U.S. citizens of the following standing security guidance:
It is always advisable to keep your security and situational awareness levels high.
Please follow these good personal security practices:
* Avoid large crowds or gatherings of unknown origin or circumstances when traveling in public;
* Know where you are going and have a plan of what to do in the event you encounter demonstrations or violence;
* Identify safe areas (for example police stations, hospitals) in your area and how to get to them quickly;
* Tell co-workers or neighbors where you’re going and when you intend to return;
* Minimize your profile while in public;
* Always carry a cell phone and make sure you have emergency numbers pre-programmed into your phone such as the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi (02-414-2200), and U.S. Consulate General in Dubai (04-309-4000). The emergency number for the Abu Dhabi Police, Fire, and Rescue is 999;
* Be prepared to postpone or cancel activities for personal safety concerns;
* Report concerns you may have to the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the U.S. Consulate General in Dubai.
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Full statement:
http://abudhabi.usembassy.gov/sm120314.html
Patrick