Four Saudi princes were arrested over the weekend, but it is still unclear whether it was a coup attempt or during the removal of Salman's opponents
Tried to silence opponents? Bin Salman // Photo: EPA
Sources close to the Saudi leadership told the Washington Post that four prominent princes, including two senior members of the Saudi royal family, were arrested in Riyadh during a rally to establish the status of the regent, Muhammad bin Salman. Prince Ahmed and Prince Muhammad bin Naif were reportedly arrested and charged with treason, a punishment for which they could be executed.
According to one source, two of the arrested princes returned home from a hunting trip Thursday evening, receiving a phone call inviting them to meet with Ben Salman at 7am the next day. When they arrived at the meeting - they stopped.
The third detainee is Nawaf bin Naif, Muhammad bin Naif's little brother. The latter was the Saudi interior minister until 2017 and is considered a favorite candidate by the Americans, with whom he has close ties. Despite this, he was ousted by Ben Salman and has been under supervision ever since. According to a person involved in the incident, on Saturday, the son of Prince Ahmed, Naif Ben Ahmed, was arrested.
The report comes later in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal publications, where Prince Muhammad bin Naif, his little brother Naaf Bin Naif, and King Salman's brother Prince Ahmad were arrested last Friday. According to sources who spoke to the Wall Street Journal, the arrests were made on suspicion of attempted coup, but one of the sources said the cause of the arrests is still unclear.