Saudi Arabia ‘tried to target critic’ living in Norway exile

London: Saudi Arabia sought to deploy a 10-man security team with diplomatic immunity to Norway in an attempt to target a critic of Mohammad bin Salman, the Kingdom's Crown Prince, according to Norwegian media reports.

Dagbladet, one of Norway's largest newspapers, reported that Saudi Arabia requested in the summer of 2018 that all members of the "mysterious" team be granted diplomatic immunity – but Norwegian authorities refused.

Saudi Arabia’s flag.Credit:AP

It added that Iyad el-Baghdadi, a prominent critic of the Crown Prince living in exile in Norway, had been warned about the Saudi request by Norwegian authorities. The CIA has also reportedly warned him about a potential threat. Baghdadi has previously said that he fears recriminations by Saudi Arabia against him and his family.

A Norwegian government spokesman confirmed to Dagbladet the Saudi request for immunity, but said it was only granted to one of the 10 security staff.

The request was issued in the same year that Saudi agents murdered Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate. Saudi Arabia has condemned the killing, which it says was carried out by rogue agents.

When contacted by Dagbladet, Saudi Arabia denied the allegations.

Telegraph, London

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