Suspect behind Abu Dhabi mall murder arrested

Abu Dhabi: The main suspect in the murder of an American kindergarten teacher in the restroom of an Abu Dhabi mall has been arrested and is in police custody, Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, announced at a press conference Thursday.

Shaikh Saif said the suspect is a 38-year-old Emirati woman. Police arrested her within 48 hours of the crime.

“We worked around the clock until the law enforcement officers of Abu Dhabi Police managed to unveil her identity despite her best efforts to destroy all evidence that could have led to her arrest,” Shaikh Saif said.

The same suspect also planted a bomb in front of the house of an American doctor in Abu Dhabi, he said.

The suspect covered her car plate number with a UAE flag during the National Day celebrations to avoid detection, Shaikh Saif said.

The bomb planted by the mall murder suspect near American doctor’s home was crude home-made type, Shaikh Saif said. Similar bombs were found at the suspect’s home.

The police managed to dismantle the bomb near the Muslim-American doctor’s home after his son noticed it while heading for Maghreb prayers.

He also said the victims of the attacks were picked based on the colour of their skin and their nationality. The UAE defends human rights and values of justice and security both domestically and abroad, Shaikh Saif emphasised.