Saudi Arabia detains princes, ministers and billionaire investor in extraordinary purge

ISTANBUL — Saudi authorities arrested royal family members, cabinet ministers and former government officials in an extraordinary purge on Saturday that included the arrest of Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a billionaire investor who owns major stakes in such companies as Twitter and Citigroup.

Saudi officials and media outlets framed the detentions as stemming from an urgent new drive to root out graft in the kingdom. But it also appeared part of an effort by the country’s ambitious and brash crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, to consolidate power by eliminating rivals or critics in the event that his father, King Salman, soon abdicates the throne. 

News of the arrests was announced by the state news agency and the Saudi-owned al-Arabiya news channel, which said in a report late Saturday that 11 princes, four ministers as well as “tens” of former ministers had been arrested on the orders of Mohammed, who was appointed by his father Saturday as the head of a new anti-corruption committee.  - More, washingtonpost

Saudi Arabia detains princes, ministers and billionaire investor in extraordinary purge