Police of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have arrested the suspect in the fatal stabbing of an American teacher in an  Abu Dhabi mall, the UAE Interior Ministry announced last Monday.

The police, however, could not confirm if the stabbing was part of a terrorist attack but said that they are looking into that possibility.

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Police and US media entities have identified the American fatality as kindergarten teacher Ibolya Ryan, mother of 11 year old twins. Reports said she previously taught in a Colorado school.

In a statement posted on the Ministry's Twitter account, Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, announced that "the face-covered suspect is now in police custody."

Reports from the police said the suspect was a 38-year old woman who they have named "The Reem Island Ghost" after the shopping mall  where the suspect attacked the American woman last Monday.

The statement issued by the Ministry further said that the dedication of the police force, together with God's grace, were contributing factors in the successful capture of the suspect.

Saif said the country is witnessing an "unprecedented and heinous crime" committed in their land and vowed to mete out harsh punishments to whoever will attempt to violate their laws.

Colonel Rashid Borshid of the Abu Dhabi police said that a bomb was placed at the front door of the house of an American doctor living in the UAE more than an hour after the killing but was dismantled successfully. No one was hurt in the incident.

Asked if the series of events pointed to a possible terrorist attacks, the police said they could not confirm it yet.

Video footages showed the suspect, dressed in the traditional niqab, entered the shopping mall at 1:00pm and 90 minutes later was seen rushing from the restroom with the rest of the shoppers scrambling for safety.

The CCTV footages also showed a bloodied knife and trails of blood on the floor of the restroom.

The footage, released on Wednesday, likewise showed the fully-covered woman entering a building in Abu Dhabi, pulling a wheeled luggage reportedly containing a bomb.

Police authorities have expressed frustration over the use of the traditional dress niqab by women saying it makes their job more difficult when crimes are committed.

The recent killing has sparked another debate on the niqab posing a security issue. Media entities said no one can tell whether it is a man or a woman who is behind the niqab.

Observers said the niqab serves as a camouflage where the person can enter shopping malls and other buildings and can commit crimes at anytime. This is the security problem the police have to contend with. in performing their jobs.

Tagsniqab, Terrorist, teacher