Reports: Arrested Saudi Princes Being Held at Luxury Ritz Carlton in Riyadh

Reports: Arrested Saudi Princes Being Held at Luxury Ritz Carlton in Riyadh

by Breitbart Jerusalem 5 Nov 2017

http://www.breitbart.com/jerusalem/2017/11/05/reports-arrested-saudi-princes-held-luxury-ritz-carlton-riyadh/

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Saudi Arabia has arrested dozens of princes, senior military officers, businessmen and top officials, including a well-known royal billionaire with extensive holdings in Western companies, as part of a sweeping purported anti-corruption probe that further cements control in the hands of its young crown prince.

A high-level employee at Prince Alwaleed bin Talal’s Kingdom Holding Co. told The Associated Press that the royal— who is one of the world’s richest men— was among those detained overnight Saturday. The company’s stock was down nearly 9 percent in trading Sunday on the Saudi stock exchange.

Reports suggested those detained were being held at the Ritz Carlton in Riyadh, which only days earlier hosted a major investment conference with global business titans from the U.S., Japan and other countries. A Saudi official told The Associated Press that other five-star hotels across the capital were also being used to hold some of those arrested.

The surprise arrests, which also reportedly include two of the late King Abdullah’s sons, were hailed by pro-government media outlets as the greatest sign yet that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is keeping his promise to reform the country, long been plagued by allegations of corruption at the highest levels of government.

Analysts have suggested the arrest of once-untouchable members of the royal family is the latest sign that the 32-year-old crown prince is moving to quash potential rivals or critics. The prince’s swift rise to power has unnerved more experienced, elder members of the ruling Al Saud family, which has long ruled by consensus, though ultimate decision-making remains with the monarch.

The king named his son, the crown prince, as head of an anti-corruption committee established late Saturday, just hours before its arrest of top officials.

A Saudi government official with close ties to security says 11 princes and 38 others are being held. The official spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.

Marriott International said in a statement that it is currently evaluating the situation at the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh. “As a matter of guest privacy, we do not discuss the guests or groups with whom we do business or may be visitors of the hotel,” the statement added.

The scale of the arrests is unprecedented in Saudi Arabia, where senior royals and their business associates were seen as operating above the law. Saudi nationals have long complained of rampant corruption in government and of public funds being squandered or misused by people in power.

Shortly before the arrests, King Salman had ousted Prince Miteb bin Abdullah from his post as head of the National Guard. The prince is reportedly among those detained in the sweep, as is his brother, Prince Turki bin Abdullah, who was once governor of Riyadh. Both are sons of the late King Abdullah, who ruled before his half-brother King Salman.

Prince Miteb was once considered a contender for the throne.

Saudi Twitter accounts released several other names of those arrested, such as: Alwalid al-Ibrahim, a Saudi businessman with ties to the royal family who runs the Arabic satellite group MBC; Amr al-Dabbagh, the former head of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority; Ibrahim Assaf, the former finance minister; and Bakr Binladin, head of the Saudi Binladin Group, a major business conglomerate.

An earlier crackdown on perceived critics of the crown prince included clerics, writers, lesser-known princes and Saudi figures popular on social media.

“The dismissals and detentions suggest that Prince Mohammed rather than forging alliances is extending his iron grip to the ruling family, the military, and the national guard to counter what appears to be more widespread opposition within the family as well as the military to his reforms and the Yemen war,” James M. Dorsey, a Gulf specialist and senior fellow at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, said an analysis of the shake-up.

Saudi Arabia said late Saturday it intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Yemen at Riyadh International Airport, on the outskirts of the capital. The crown prince, as defense minister, oversees the stalemated war against Yemen’s Iranian-allied rebels.

The Finance Ministry said the anti-corruption probe “opens a new era of transparency and accountability,” enhances confidence in the rule of law and improves the kingdom’s investment climate.

It is not clear what Prince Alwaleed or others are being investigated for.

The Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya news channel said the anti-corruption probe was looking into the response to flooding in Jiddah that killed around 120 people in 2009 and devastated the city again in 2011, as well as the government’s handling of a Coronavirus outbreak that has killed several hundred people in recent years.

Prince Alwaleed’s many investments include Twitter, Apple, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., Citigroup, and the Four Seasons, Fairmont and Movenpick hotel chains. He is also an investor in ride-sharing services Lyft and Careem.

The prince, often pictured on his 85.65-meter (281 foot) superyacht in the Mediterranean, is among the most outspoken Saudi royals and a longtime advocate for women’s rights. He is also majority owner of the popular Rotana Group of Arabic channels.

The AP reached out overnight to Kingdom Holding for comment. There was no response as of Sunday afternoon. The senior employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to fear of repercussions, said security bodies informed him of the arrest.

The kingdom’s top council of clerics issued a statement saying it is an Islamic duty to fight corruption— essentially giving religious backing to the high-level arrests being reported. A top royal court official, Badr al-Asaker, on Sunday appeared to confirm the arrests on Twitter, describing a “historic and black night against the corrupt.”

The government said the anti-corruption committee has the right to issue arrest warrants, impose travel restrictions and freeze bank accounts. It can also trace funds, prevent the transfer of funds or the liquidation of assets, and take other precautionary measures until cases are referred to the judiciary.

Meanwhile, Prince Miteb was replaced by a lesser known royal, Prince Khalid bin Ayyaf al-Muqrin, to head the National Guard— a prestigious force tasked with protecting the royal family, important holy sites in Mecca and Medina, and oil and gas sites.

Just three months earlier, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef was plucked from the line of succession and from his post as interior minister, overseeing internal security. This laid the groundwork for the king’s son to claim the mantle of crown prince.

Let’s connect the dots:

Ritz Carlton

William R. Tiefel was the chairman for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, a vice chairman for Marriott International Inc., and is a member of the Cosmos Club.

Note: Chester A. Crocker is a member of the Cosmos Club, and a professor at Georgetown University.

Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding was a center at Georgetown University.

Madeleine K. Albright is a professor at Georgetown University, a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), and an overseer at the International Rescue Committee.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank), Refugees International, the International Rescue Committee, and the Roosevelt Institute.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, a director emeritus for Refugees International, and a member of the Breakthrough Energy Coalition.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for Refugees International, the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, and the Doctors Without Borders.

Queen Noor is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), a director at Refugees International, Jordan’s queen dowager, and was married to King Hussein.

King Hussein was married to Queen Noor, a Jordan king, Muhammad bin Talal’s brother, Princess Firyal’s sister-in-law, and Abdullah II’s father.

Muhammad bin Talal is King Hussein’s brother, and was married to Princess Firyal.

Princess Firyal was King Hussein’s sister-in-law, married to Muhammad bin Talal, is a Jordan princess, and an overseer at the International Rescue Committee.

Rania Al Abdullah is a Jordan queen, married to Abdullah II, and a director at the International Rescue Committee.

Abdullah II is married to Rania Al Abdullah, King Hussein’s son, and the Jordan king.

Madeleine K. Albright is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), and a professor at Georgetown University.

Chester A. Crocker is a professor at Georgetown University, and a member of the Cosmos Club.

William R. Tiefel is a member of the Cosmos Club, was a vice chairman for Marriott International Inc., and the chairman for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding was a center at Georgetown University.

Alwaleed bin Talal is a benefactor for the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, a member of the Breakthrough Energy Coalition, a Saudi Arabia prince, an investor in Twitter Inc., a stockholder in Citigroup Inc., an investor in the Rotana Group, the chairman for the Kingdom Hotels International, the chairman for the Kingdom Holding Company, the founder for the Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation, was a stockholder in News Corp., and the owner of Kingdom 5KR.

Rotana Group is an investor in News Corp.

Kingdom Hotels International is an investor in the Four Seasons Hotels Ltd.

Kingdom Holding Company was an investor in Twitter Inc., is an investor in the Citigroup Inc., and an investor in Apple Inc.

Donald Trump was an owner for the Kingdom 5KR.

Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, the Islamic Development Bank, the Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow, and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow is the sponsor for the Cordoba Initiative, and the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Feisal Abdul Rauf is the founder & chairman for the Cordoba Initiative, a co-founder for the American Society for Muslim Advancement, married to Daisy Khan, and a developer for Park51.

Park51

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park51

Park51 (originally named Cordoba House^[6]) is to be a 13-story Islamic community center in Lower Manhattan including a "Muslim community center and a mosque."^[7] The developers hoped to promote an interfaith dialogue within the greater community.^[7] Due to its proposed location two blocks from the World Trade Center site,^[8][9] it was widely and controversially referred to as the "Ground Zero mosque".

Park51 would have replaced an existing 1850s building of Italianate style that was damaged in the September 11 attacks.

Daisy Khan is married to Feisal Abdul Rauf, an executive director for the American Society for Muslim Advancement, a developer for Park51, and was a director at the White House Project.

Bloomberg Philanthropies was a funder for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, and is an umbrella organization for the Bloomberg Family Foundation.

Patricia E. Harris is the CEO for the Bloomberg Philanthropies, a director & CEO for the Bloomberg Family Foundation, and a director at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center.

Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation was a funder for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, the Islamic Development Bank, and the Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow.

Bloomberg Family Foundation was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, the Aspen Institute (think tank), and the Doctors Without Borders.

Walter Isaacson is a director at the Bloomberg Family Foundation, and the president & CEO for the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Madeleine K. Albright is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, and a professor at Georgetown University.

Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding was a center at Georgetown University.

Chester A. Crocker is a professor at Georgetown University, and a member of the Cosmos Club.

William R. Tiefel is a member of the Cosmos Club, was a vice chairman for Marriott International Inc., and the chairman for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

Charles M. Firestone is a member of the Cosmos Club, and an executive director, Communications and Society Program for the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Beth A. Brooke-Marciniak is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), and was a director at the White House Project.

Daisy Khan was a director at the White House Project.

Gara LaMarche was a director at the White House Project, an associate director for the Human Rights Watch, a VP & director of U.S. programs for the Open Society Foundations, and is a director at the Roosevelt Institute.

Vartan Gregorian was a director at the Human Rights Watch, and is a director at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center.

Jonathan Soros is a senior fellow at the Roosevelt Institute, George Soros’s son, and a global board member for the Open Society Foundations.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Human Rights Watch, the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, and the Doctors Without Borders.

George Soros is a founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, a member of the Breakthrough Energy Coalition, Jonathan Soros’s father, was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, and a benefactor for the Human Rights Watch.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Human Rights Watch, the Roosevelt Institute, the Aspen Institute (think tank), and the International Rescue Committee.

Bloomberg Family Foundation was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank), and the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Michael R. Bloomberg is the founder of the Bloomberg Family Foundation, was an advocate for the ONE Campaign, and the chairman for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center.

ONE Campaign is a partner with the International Rescue Committee.

Madeleine K. Albright is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, and a professor at Georgetown University.

Charles M. Firestone is an executive director, Communications and Society Program for the Aspen Institute (think tank), and a member of the Cosmos Club.

Chester A. Crocker is a professor at Georgetown University, and a member of the Cosmos Club.

William R. Tiefel is a member of the Cosmos Club, was a vice chairman for Marriott International Inc., and the chairman for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding was a center at Georgetown University.

Madeleine K. Albright is a professor at Georgetown University, a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), and an overseer at the International Rescue Committee.

John C. Whitehead was an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, and a director at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center.

Princess Firyal is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, a Jordan princess, married to Muhammad bin Talal, and was King Hussein’s sister-in-law.

Rania Al Abdullah is a director at the International Rescue Committee, and a Jordan queen, married to Abdullah II.

ONE Campaign is a partner with the International Rescue Committee.

Michael R. Bloomberg was an advocate for the ONE Campaign, the chairman for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center, and is the founder of the Bloomberg Family Foundation.

Bloomberg Family Foundation was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank), the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, and the Doctors Without Borders.

Marsha Garces Williams was a U.S. advisory board member for the Doctors Without Borders, and is an advisory board member for the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education. 

Bill Hornbuckle is an advisory board member for the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education, and the president & COO for the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.

Mass Shooting Outside Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay; 50+ Dead, 406 Sent to Hospital (PAST RESEARCH)

Monday, October 2, 2017

http://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2017/10/mass-shooting-outside-las-vegas.html

Google Foundation was a funder for the Doctors Without Borders, and the International Rescue Committee.

Princess Firyal is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, a Jordan princess, married to Muhammad bin Talal, and was King Hussein’s sister-in-law.

Rania Al Abdullah is a director at the International Rescue Committee, and a Jordan queen, married to Abdullah II.

ONE Campaign is a partner with the International Rescue Committee.

Michael R. Bloomberg was an advocate for the ONE Campaign, the chairman for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center, and is the founder of the Bloomberg Family Foundation.

Bloomberg Family Foundation was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank), the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, and the Doctors Without Borders.

Partridge Foundation was a funder for the Doctors Without Borders, and the International Rescue Committee.

Rockefeller Foundation was a funder for the Doctors Without Borders.

Rajiv Shah is the president of the Rockefeller Foundation, and a director at the International Rescue Committee.

Princess Firyal is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, a Jordan princess, married to Muhammad bin Talal, and was King Hussein’s sister-in-law.

Rania Al Abdullah is a director at the International Rescue Committee, and a Jordan queen, married to Abdullah II.

ONE Campaign is a partner with the International Rescue Committee.

Michael R. Bloomberg was an advocate for the ONE Campaign, the chairman for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center, and is the founder of the Bloomberg Family Foundation.

ONE Campaign is a partner with the International Rescue Committee.

Helene D. Gayle is a director at the ONE Campaign, a trustee at the Rockefeller Foundation, and an advisory board member for the Malaria No More.

Rockefeller Foundation was a funder for the Doctors Without Borders.

Rajiv Shah is the president of the Rockefeller Foundation, and a director at the International Rescue Committee.

Google Foundation was a funder for the Malaria No More, the Doctors Without Borders, and the International Rescue Committee.

Princess Firyal is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, a Jordan princess, married to Muhammad bin Talal, and was King Hussein’s sister-in-law.

Rania Al Abdullah is a director at the International Rescue Committee, and a Jordan queen, married to Abdullah II.

ONE Campaign is a partner with the International Rescue Committee.

Madeleine K. Albright is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), and a professor at Georgetown University.  

Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding was a center at Georgetown University.

Chester A. Crocker is a professor at Georgetown University, and a member of the Cosmos Club.

William R. Tiefel is a member of the Cosmos Club, was a vice chairman for Marriott International Inc., and the chairman for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

Google.org is the manager for the Google Foundation.

Sonal Shah was the head of global development for Google.org, and a fellow for the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Queen Noor is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), a director at Refugees International, Jordan’s queen dowager, and was married to King Hussein.

King Hussein was married to Queen Noor, a Jordan king, Muhammad bin Talal’s brother, Princess Firyal’s sister-in-law, and Abdullah II’s father.

Muhammad bin Talal is King Hussein’s brother, and was married to Princess Firyal.

Princess Firyal was King Hussein’s sister-in-law, married to Muhammad bin Talal, is a Jordan princess, and an overseer at the International Rescue Committee.

Rania Al Abdullah is a Jordan queen, married to Abdullah II, and a director at the International Rescue Committee.

Google Foundation was a funder for the International Rescue Committee, the Malaria No More, and the Doctors Without Borders.

ONE Campaign is a partner with the International Rescue Committee.

Sheryl K. Sandberg is a director at the ONE Campaign, was a director at the Google Foundation, and a VP for Google Inc.

Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding was a center at Georgetown University.

Chester A. Crocker is a professor at Georgetown University, and a member of the Cosmos Club.

William R. Tiefel is a member of the Cosmos Club, was a vice chairman for Marriott International Inc., and the chairman for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

Laurence A. Tosi is a director at Georgetown University, and the CFO for the Blackstone Group.

Saudi Arabia sovereign wealth fund is an investor in the Blackstone Group.

Mohammed bin Salman is the chairman for the Saudi Arabia sovereign wealth fund, and a deputy crown prince for Saudi Arabia.

John J. Studzinski is the vice chairman for the Blackstone Group, a director at the Human Rights Watch, and a papal knighthood knight.

Gara LaMarche was an associate director for the Human Rights Watch, a director at the White House Project, a VP & director of U.S. programs for the Open Society Foundations, and is a director at the Roosevelt Institute.

Daisy Khan was a director at the White House Project, is married to Feisal Abdul Rauf, an executive director for the American Society for Muslim Advancement, and a developer for Park51.

papal knighthood is an honor conferred by pope for the Roman Catholic Church.

K. Rupert Murdoch is a papal knighthood knight, papal knighthood knight, the chairman for the News Corp., and supported Tony Blair’s political career.

Alwaleed bin Talal was a stockholder in News Corp., the owner of Kingdom 5KR, is a benefactor for the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, a member of the Breakthrough Energy Coalition, a Saudi Arabia prince, an investor in Twitter Inc., a stockholder in Citigroup Inc., the chairman for the Kingdom Hotels International, the chairman for the Kingdom Holding Company, the founder for the Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation, and an investor in the Rotana Group.

Rotana Group is an investor in News Corp.

Tony Blair’s political career was supported by K. Rupert Murdoch, is a friend of Rania Al Abdullah, and Grace Murdoch’s godfather.

Rania Al Abdullah is a friend of Tony Blair, the Jordan queen, married to Abdullah II, a director at the International Rescue Committee, and hosted Grace Murdoch & Chloe Murdoch’s baptism.

Princess Firyal is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, a Jordan princess, married to Muhammad bin Talal, and was King Hussein’s sister-in-law.

Abdullah II is married to Rania Al Abdullah, King Hussein’s son, and the Jordan king.

Muhammad bin Talal is King Hussein’s brother, and was married to Princess Firyal.

Chloe Murdoch’s baptism was hosted by Rania Al Abdullah, and is K. Rupert Murdoch’s daughter.

Grace Murdoch’s baptism was hosted by Rania Al Abdullah, is K. Rupert Murdoch’s daughter, and her godfather is Tony Blair’.

K. Rupert Murdoch is Chloe Murdoch & Grace Murdoch’s father, a papal knighthood knight, papal knighthood knight, the chairman for the News Corp., and supported Tony Blair’s political career.

papal knighthood is an honor conferred by pope for the Roman Catholic Church.

John J. Studzinski is a papal knighthood knight, a director at the Human Rights Watch, and the vice chairman for the Blackstone Group.

Saudi Arabia sovereign wealth fund is an investor in the Blackstone Group.

Mohammed bin Salman is the chairman for the Saudi Arabia sovereign wealth fund, and a deputy crown prince for Saudi Arabia.

Laurence A. Tosi is the CFO for the Blackstone Group, and a director at Georgetown University.  

Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding was a center at Georgetown University.

Chester A. Crocker is a professor at Georgetown University, and a member of the Cosmos Club.

William R. Tiefel is a member of the Cosmos Club, was a vice chairman for Marriott International Inc., and the chairman for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.