Saudi Arabia detains three senior members of royal family

(FASTNEWS | Saudi Arabia) – Three senior members of Saudi Arabia’s royal family, including the king’s brother, have been arrested for unexplained reasons, US media report.

Two of the men were among the kingdom’s most influential figures.

The detentions have been linked to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

In 2017 dozens of Saudi royal figures, ministers and businessmen were confined to the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh after the crown prince ordered their arrests.

Mohammed bin Salman is considered the de facto ruler of the kingdom, after he was named crown prince by his father in 2016.

The detentions took place early on Friday morning, report the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.

The three men reported to have been arrested are the king’s younger brother Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, former crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef, and a royal cousin, Prince Nawaf bin Nayef.

Mohammed bin Nayef was interior minister until he was removed from his role and placed under house arrest by Mohammed Bin Salman in 2017.

Guards arrived at the homes of the royals wearing masks and dressed in black, and searched their homes, the Wall Street Journal says.

(Courtesy – BBC)