By Gulfnews – Manama: The brigade that arrested the 11 princes who took part in an illegal gathering at a royal palace in the Saudi capital Riyadh is an elite force, and among the most competent and skilled security forces in Saudi Arabia. Saudi media reported yesterday that 11 princes were arrested after they held a rally to protest a royal decision to make princes pay for their electricity and water consumption and refused to leave the royal palace. The princes had gathered Thursday at Qasr al-Hokm palace demanding the cancellation of a recent decree that halted state payment of water and electricity bills for royal family members and seeking compensation for a death sentence implemented in 2016 against one of their cousins, Prince Turki bin Saud al-Kabeer. The princes also demanded financial compensation for a ruling against one of their cousins, Saudi news site Sabq and Al Marsad said. The princes were informed that their actions were wrong and that they should vacate the premises, but they refused to comply. A royal order was issued to Al Ajrab Sword Brigade in the Royal Guard to step in and arrest them ahead of legal action, the news sites said. Sources told the news sites that the directives had been given to treat all citizens, regardless of their status, equally and as per rules and regulations.
“Despite being informed that their demands are not lawful, the 11 princes refused to leave the area, disrupting public peace and order. Members of a security service stepped in to restore order and the princes were arrested,” the public prosecutor’s statement said, without identifying the princes. “Following their arrest, they have been charged on a number of counts in relation to these offenses. They are detained at Al-Hayer prison south of the capital pending their trial.” News website Sabq earlier identified the leader of the group of princes by the initials S.A.S. The Saud al-Kabeer branch of the House of Saud descends from a cousin of late King Abdulaziz, who founded the modern kingdom.
Al Ajrab Sword Brigade is directly linked to Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman and was formed by King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz shortly after he acceded to power in January 2015 following the death of King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz. The brigade is made up of more than 5,000 personnel with various ranks who have taken part in advanced military courses, Sabq reported. The force is named after the founder of the second Saudi state, Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Saud who referred to his sword as ‘Al Ajrab’. The sword had gained an outstanding reputation as the best-known Arab sword. The sword was given by Imam Saud Bin Faisal Al Saud to Shaikh Eisa Bin Khalifa of Bahrain in 19th century, where it was carefully preserved for decades until it was given back by King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa to King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz who was on a historic visit to Bahrain in 2010. King Hamad said that his family had the great honour of keeping Al Ajrab for almost 140 years. Al Ajrab has remained a symbol of the one-family and the unity between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, King Hamad had said on the occasion. “On this auspicious occasion, we have decided to present the sword to you as a reminder of the true and historic brotherhood founded and consolidated by our forefathers and the solidarity between the Saudi and Bahraini peoples,” King Hamad had said.
