Hunt on for teens who jumped into Dubai canal

dubai — The Dubai Police have launched a manhunt for two teenagers who could be seen jumping off the Dubai Water Canal bridge in a video that has gone viral. The video shows the two teenagers jumping off the high altitude bridge into the canal, even as others who filmed the video could be heard encouraging them.

One of them, who wore a traditional Emirati kandoura, performed a back flip as he jumped into the water. His headgear can be seen flying off before he hits the water. The other teenager dressed in black shorts jumps in as their friends can be heard laughing and encouraging them.

Taking cognisance of the video, Major-General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commanderin-Chief of the Dubai Police, has ordered the force to take legal action against the boys.

Abdullah Khedem bin Soroor, director of the Bur Dubai police station, said the police have identified them as Emiratis based on their clothes and dialect. The police have formed a team to identify and take them into custody.

“What they did was not strictly a crime, but they endangered their lives. They could have even lost their lives. They will be brought in to sign an undertaking that they would not repeat the act,” said the officer.

Colonel Abdullah Al Zaoidi, director of Port police station, said a sign on the bridge specifically prohibits this act. “The two teenagers

The two teenagers used a public facility for the illegal act and put their lives in danger.”

Col Abdullah Al Zaoidi, director, Port police station

seen in the video did not abide by this instruction and put their lives in danger. They used a public facility to perform the illegal act.” Bin Soroor added that the police have zero tolerance towards such “reckless actions”.

He urged parents to supervise their children’s behaviour and keep a close eye on their friends since the teenagers who jumped were encouraged by others.

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