A Norwegian trip Line worker is being held on suspicion of stabbing several people with scissors while on an Alaska trip.
An arrest was made on Ntando Sogoni, 35, by the FBI on Tuesday as the Norwegian Encore docked in Juneau, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska.
The ship left Seattle and was going to Alaska, stopping in British Columbia along the way. The killings are said to have happened on Monday in the water west of Vancouver Island, B.C., after Sogoni, a South African resident, joined the ship in Seattle earlier that day.
Court papers say that people working on the ship saw Sogoni trying to launch a lifeboat and called security to take him to the medical center of the ship for evaluation.
Within an exam room, Sogoni “became irrational and attempted to leave,” attacking a security guard and a nurse before grabbing a pair of medical scissors and stabbing a female patient “several times in the arm, hand, and face,” as stated in the document. People who saw him said he also stabbed two security guards in the head, back, and shoulders as they tried to hold him down.
There was no danger to life from any of the accidents.
Before the Encore arrived in Juneau, Sogoni was held in the ship’s jail. On Tuesday, FBI agents arrested him there.
Sogoni is being charged with assault with a dangerous weapon in both marine and territorial waters. He could get 10 years in jail and a $250,000 fine if he is found guilty.
It was reported that a new crew member was acting in a strange and irrational way, and Norwegian Cruise Line said it was “assisting the relevant authorities in the ongoing investigation.” A statement from the cruise line shared with USA Today said that top officials have gone to Juneau to meet with and help the injured passenger, who is a 75-year-old U.S. citizen.
A representative for Norwegian Cruise Line said, “We take this kind of violent behavior very seriously and are dedicated to the safety and security of all crew members and guests on our ships.” “We commend the onboard security team for their brave actions.”
