Well-informed sources affirmed that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Ibn Salman (MBS) expressed fear of any coup or assassination attempt after losing confidence in his inner circle.
The security sources said that MBS decided to increase his personal bodyguards, pointing out that he created a personal ‘Blackwater’ army.
During Eid prayers, MBS appeared in a royal hall at the Grand Mosque in Mecca under heavy security with bodyguards and very limited attendance from his inner circle.
MBS has lost confidence in his closest people, and he replaced his Saudi bodyguards with members of Blackwater and some Pakistani special forces.
Unprecedented security measures and high security technologies were taken in MBS’ palace for fear of any planned attack. The contracts include spending $95 million annually to import the latest Israeli espionage and surveillance technologies to Saudi Arabia.
MBS has hired about 1,000 members of the Pakistani Special Division of the elite forces, according to the sources.
Sources familiar with the matter revealed that members of the royal family expressed in secret conversations their dissatisfaction with MBS’ policies.
MBS has strengthened his grip on power after arresting prominent princes and ministers, the sources added, noting that many decisions taken since he took office in June 2017 sparked widespread anger within the ruling family.
Intelligence reports earlier revealed that MBS had been subjected to an assassination attempt by one of his bodyguards when he was on a visit to one of his royal palaces.
MBS did not appear in public following the incident, and he missed the tripartite Gulf summit in the UAE and the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing.
The Crown Prince has only confidence in his personal bodyguard, Major Yasser Al-Alaboun, who was responsible for the arrests of dozens of Saudi princes.
