Mohamed Hassan, 55, is a
world-renowned award-winning consultant working in a government hospital
in Abu Dhabi. His son discovered the bomb
This
is the American doctor whose family's quick thinking foiled a bomb plot
- and helped police catch the Reem Island Ghost suspected of murdering a
teacher in a shopping mall.
Mohamed Hassan is a world-renowned award-winning consultant working in a government hospital in Abu Dhabi.
The
55-year-old Egyptian doctor studied in the US, where he worked and won
numerous accolades over more than a decade, including the title of
physician of the year from the Pennsylvania Advisory Board in 2003.
He is a paediatric nephrologist working with young kidney transplant patients.
It
was Dr Hassan's 13-year-old son who spotted the makeshift bomb, packed
with nails to create maximum havoc, on the doorstep of their beachfront
apartment in the United Arab Emirates capital.
He
saw the object on their doormat as he was going to the mosque to pray
and told his mother. She alerted police, who quickly dismantled the bomb
before it could explode.
Within
48 hours, officers had arrested Dalal al Hashemi, a 38-year-old Emirati
of Yemeni origin, at her home in Abu Dhabi, where they discovered
bomb-making equipment.
There were fears she was not acting alone, although police have refused to be drawn on how many others might have been involved.
Security
officials said the two victims - American teacher Ibolya Ryan, 47, and
the Arab-American doctor - had been targeted because of their
nationality.
Al Hashemi was said to have given a full confession and is now facing the death penalty if she is convicted of a terrorist act.
Father-of-three
Dr Hassan, a consultant nephrologist at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City and
an expert in kidney diseases, told the government-run Emirates News
Agency the bomb attempt and murder, thought to have been committed by
the same burqa-clad female suspect, amounted to 'a cowardly crime that
is alien to the good UAE society whose government is keen to show the
highest generosity and hospitality.
'This crime is an aggression against innocent people whose only fault is that they are western nationals.'
He
said it was only thanks to his family's swift actions and those of the
police that more injuries were not caused among his family and 'anyone
who might have been in the vicinity where the bomb was planted,
including children, other residents, cleaners, guards, delivery men and
other innocent people'.
Attack: In footage that was released earlier this week, the suspect can be seen entering the mall at 1.13pm
On the move: In other newly-released
footage, the suspect is seen dragging a small suitcase towards where an
Egyptian-American doctor lives. She is accused of leaving a home-made
bomb outside his door
Caught on camera: She is seen dragging her small suitcase across the parking lot of the apartment building
Dr
Hassan said his wife called him after their son discovered the bomb. The
family were evacuated and rehomed in a hotel apartment.
It
is not known how the attacker knew Dr Hassan's nationality. She
allegedly stabbed Mrs Ryan in public toilets in Boutik Mall on Reem
island on Monday - then drove 30 minutes to Dr Hassan's beachfront
apartment block.
A
security guard became suspicious after seeing a veiled woman wearing
gloves wheeling a small black suitcase into the building, then leaving
several minutes later.
A
similarly-dressed woman had visited the apartment several days earlier -
but once she had checked to see if the Hassans were home, she fled
before they had a chance to identify her.
Dr
Hassan said he had been called personally by Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al
Nahyan, the deputy prime minister of the UAE and the Interior Minister
in charge of security. The prince assured him the offender would be
brought to justice.
Dr
Hassan said: 'The phone call provided great relief during that critical
ordeal. It reflects the noble and civilised approach of the leaders and
the government's work to consolidate the security and stability of the
UAE.'
The doctor has been working in Abu Dhabi since 2006.
Mom: Teacher Ibolya Ryan, 47, was the
mother of 11-year-old twin boys. She was previously married and lived
with her then-husband, Paul, in Denver, Colorado. She was killed in
Boutik Mall on Reem island
Victim: Mrs Ryan, 47, a teacher, said in online profiles that she was born in Hungary and raised in Romania
He studied medicine at Alexandria University in Egypt before completing his postgraduate studies in the US.
He
practiced and taught in the US for more than a decade. He was an
assistant professor of medicine in Pennsylvania State University and was
awarded the Ronald M Franz trophy for high academic achievements in
1996.
He
won physician of the year seven years later. Dr Hassan is a fellow of
the American College of Physicians and of the American Society of
Nephrology and is a reviewer for the American Board of Internal
Medicine.
He
has published numerous papers on diabetes and nephropathy and is an
expert in acute and chronic kidney failure and kidney transplant
evaluation.
Dr
Hassan is a paediatric nephrologist treating young kidney transplant
patients. He did his postgraduate studies in Capital Health System in
New Jersey and was a fellow in nephrology in Thomas Jefferson
University, Pennsylvania.
Source: MailOnline
