Saudi prince killed while resisting arrest: reports

Saudi prince Abdulaziz bin Fahd and a number of his guards were reportedly killed after a gunfight erupted with Saudi security forces when the royal resisted arrest, part of the ongoing anti-corruption purge launched in Saudi Arabia.

In a tweet, former FBI Special Agent Ali H. Soufan announced the passing of Prince Abdul Aziz bin Fahd, without specifying a cause of death.

“Abdul Aziz is confirmed dead. He was 44 years old. Earlier, Mansour son of the former crown prince Muqrin was also declared dead,” read the tweet.

The deceased royal was the youngest son of the late King Fahd.

Reports circulating online also claimed that the prince had died from a heart attack.

Prince Abdul Aziz had leveled heavy criticism at Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, who is part of the U.S.-Israel axis.

Prince Aziz is the second Saudi royal to die in the last two days after Prince Mansour bin Muqren was killed Sunday when a helicopter crashed near Saudi Arabia’s southern border with war-torn Yemen.

On Saturday, Saudi authorities detained 11 princes, four sitting ministers and a dozen of former ministers in a massive anti-corruption sweep.

Saudi media said billionaire investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and National Guard Minister Prince Miteb bin Abdullah were among those detained in the sweep.

The arrests came hours after an anti-corruption committee, under Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, was formed by a royal decree.