The king's security chief Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud Saudi Arabia was shot and killed under mysterious circumstances. Abdulaziz al-Fagham was a major general of the Royal Guard Corps of Saudi Arabia. He had the most delicate task: to protect the oldest members of the royal family.
Al-Fagham served two kings, King Salman and his predecessor, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and was constantly seen in all official functions. Al Fagham was a well-known and very popular face, so much so that in public opinion the murder aroused much dismay and disbelief.
But the details of al-Fagham's murder still remain very nebulous. Saudi officials began posting condolence messages on social media for al-Fagham and his family as early as Saturday evening.
Saudi state television said al-Fagham, called "the bodyguard and keeper of the two holy mosques", was killed following a "personal dispute". A subsequent televised report confirmed that al-Fagham had died Saturday night in a house belonging to a close friend of his in Jeddah, the second largest city in Saudi Arabia, which lies on the shores of the Red Sea.
Over the hours, other information emerged. While visiting his friend, al-Fagham had an argument with a certain other guest Mamdouh bin Meshaal al-Ali. The latter left the house hastily and later returned with a rifle, which he used to kill al-Fagham.
Al-Fagham was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died from gunshot wounds. Meanwhile, the police surrounded the house where the shooting occurred and attempted to arrest al-Ali. But the alleged culprit refused to surrender to the police and was killed by the police after an armed conflict ...
The New York Times wrote yesterday that in reference to the murder of al-Fagham, Saudi intelligence services contacted their American counterparts seeking information on a number of Saudi citizens with alleged links to terrorism. But it is not known whether the intelligence request was in any way related to al-Fagham's murder.