US woman murdered in UAE mall toilet

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.
Ibolya Ryan, 47, was taken to the hospital after the
attack Monday on Reem Island but died of her injuries,
Abu Dhabi police said.
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.
Authorities previously said she was 37.
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.
The cause of the fight remains unknown; the suspect fled
the scene immediately after committing the crime, he said.
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.
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 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.
The embassy had issued a statement, back in October,
warning U.S. citizens of an anonymous Internet post that
encouraged attacks against teachers at American and other
international schools.
The embassy was unaware of any specific, credible threat
at that time, but called on citizens to be vigilant about their
personal security.
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.