Bodyguard of King Salman of Saudi Arabia shot dead by friend

Saudi Arabia's King Salman.
Saudi Arabia's King Salman. Photo credit: Getty

The personal bodyguard of Saudi Arabia's King Salman was shot and killed on Saturday (local time) by a friend during a "personal dispute".

Major General Abdulaziz al-Faghem's death was announced by Saudi state TV, though the motive behind the death has not been made clear.

"Maj Gen Abdulaziz al-Fagham, bodyguard of the custodian of the two holy mosques, was shot dead following a personal dispute in Jeddah," the state TV station is reported as tweeting.

According to the state-run Saudi Press Agency, al-Fagham was visiting a friend in the city of Jeddah when another friend dropped by. After an argument, the second friend left briefly and then returned with a gun. He then shot al-Faghem and two others, reports the New York Times.

The house was then surrounded by security forces and a gunfight broke out, with the shooter eventually being killed and five security personnel wounded.

Al-Fagham later died in hospital.

The Saudi Royal family made news last year after King Salman's son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was accused of orchestrating the brutal murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Khashoggi, a critic of the Saudi State, disappeared after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Although his body was never found, a United Nations reported concluded that there was "credible evidence" that the Crown Prince was liable for the murder.

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