RIYADH: A personal bodyguard of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has been shot dead and seven others wounded, including security forces, during an altercation at a friend’s home, authorities said Sunday.
General Abdelaziz al-Fagham, who was frequently seen by the king’s side, died Saturday evening in the western city of Jeddah, police said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
“Fagham was visiting his friend at his home in Jeddah when (an) acquaintance, Mamdouh al-Ali, entered the residence,” it said.
Al-Ekhbariya state television reported that the incident was triggered by a “personal dispute”, without giving further details.
Ali himself was later killed and five security personnel wounded in a shootout when the suspect “refused to surrender”, SPA said.
It added that Fagham died in hospital from his injuries and that an investigation had been launched.
