Woman allegedly stabs herself to death, injures man on Aqaba boat trip

AMMAN — A glass-bottomed boat off the coast of Aqaba became a crime scene on Tuesday, after a woman allegedly stabbed the boat’s owner in the neck before fatally stabbing herself with her own knife, according to a senior police source. 

The woman died in hospital, while the boat’s owner survived after jumping into the sea. Aqaba authorities have begun an investigation into the “bizarre” incident. 

A 47-year-old woman is reported to have stabbed and killed herself shortly after “stabbing a 22-year-old glass boat owner who had taken her on a trip in the sea of Aqaba,” 330km south of Amman, Police Spokesperson Lt. Col. Amer Sartawi said.

“The glass boat owner informed us that, shortly after starting the trip, the woman drew a knife and stabbed him in the back of the neck,” Sartawi told The Jordan Times.

The man told investigators he jumped into the sea to escape from the woman, Sartawi added, “and waved for a coastguard boat that was nearby”.

“When the coastguard approached the glass boat, the woman turned the knife on herself, cutting her wrist, and stabbing herself in the chest and neck,” a second source told The Jordan Times.

The victim and the glass boat owner did not know each other prior to the alleged incident, based on initial investigations, Sartawi said.

The woman was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival, the second source said.

Investigators did not find any notes or evidence that would explain “the bizarre behaviour of the woman”.

However, investigators found some medical pills, which they sent to the criminal lag for analysis, along with blood and tissue samples taken from the victim herself, the second source added.

“Police are keeping a tight lip on the incident and are currently questioning the victim’s family. They are waiting for lab results in the hope that they will help them in their investigations,” the second source added.

Meanwhile, the glass boat owner was also rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was listed in good condition, according to the second source.