Cruise Ship Worker Arrested in Connection with Scissors Stabbing Involving Passenger, Security Guards

A cruise ship worker was arrested in Alaska after allegedly stabbing a passenger and two security guards with a pair of scissors while on board, authorities said.

The cruise ship worker, 35-year-old South African man Ntando Sogoni, was arrested by the FBI after disembarking in Juneau on May 7, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Alaska.

According to an affidavit filed by FBI Special Agent Matthew Judy, Sogoni was a new hire who joined the ship, the Norwegian Encore, in Seattle on May 5.

That day, the ship set off on a week-long voyage with stops scheduled in Alaska and British Columbia, Canada.

Late that night, ship employees allegedly saw Sogoni trying to deploy a lifeboat, and ship security intervened.

He was escorted to the ship's medical center for evaluation.

In the medical center, Sogoni is accused of attacking a security guard and a male nurse inside an examination room.

He then went to another room, where a female passenger was being examined, and stabbed her multiple times in the arm, hand and face with a pair of scissors, police said.

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When two security guards intervened, Sogoni allegedly stabbed one in the head and the other in the back and shoulders, according to officials. He was detained in the ship's jail until his arrest.

Sogoni is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon within maritime and territorial jurisdiction. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.

TMX contributed to this report.