Saudi king bodyguard killed in shooting

RIYADH: A prominent bodyguard of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has been shot and killed at a friend’s house in what has been described as a personal dispute, according to state media.

Major General Abdelaziz al-Fagham’s death triggered an outpouring of emotion on Twitter, with some condemning the killing of the Saudi ruler’s “guardian angel”. Fagham, who was frequently seen by the king’s side, died Saturday evening in the western city of Jeddah, police said. A police spokesman said that the gunman was shot dead by security forces, but that five officers were wounded in the melee that has shocked the kingdom, where gun violence is rare. Police said the trouble broke out when Fagham was visiting a friend who was receiving guests at his home in Jeddah. An acquaintance, Mamdouh al-Ali, entered the residence and an argument ensued. “The conversation between Fagham and Ali escalated... Ali left the home, came back carrying a gun and fired at Fagham, injuring two others in the household, a Filipino worker and the brother of the house’s owner,” it said. Ali “refused to surrender” and barricaded himself into the house, exchanging shots with security forces before he was ultimately killed, it said.

The incident was triggered by a “personal dispute”, Al-Ekhbariya state television reported without giving further details. It added that Fagham died in hospital from his injuries and that an investigation into the shooting had been launched.