Prince Miteb bin Abdullah was tortured along with five other princes according to sources close to Middle East Eye (Reuters)
Two senior Saudi princes have been released after being detained for more than three weeks as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's elite purge, according to sources.
Saudi Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, the former head of the National Guard, was released after being arrested as part of a crackdown on alleged corruption among senior Saudis.
Two Saudi sources close to the royal family also confirmed to Middle East Eye that his brother, Prince Turki bin Abdullah, had also been released after being arrested by the authorities.
Earlier this month, MEE reported that Miteb was tortured along with five other princes when he was arrested and interrogated in Riyadh during the ongoing political purge in the kingdom.
All six princes were admitted to hospital in the 24 hours following their arrest. One of the men was in such a bad condition that he was admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit – normally indicative of a high risk to the life of a patient, such as organ failure from the heart, lungs, kidneys, or high blood pressure.
Both Miteb and his brother were among dozens of royal family members, ministers and current and former senior officials who were rounded up in a graft inquiry at least partly aimed at strengthening the power of Mohammed bin Salman.
Prior to the ascension of King Salman to the throne, Prince Miteb was tipped to be a crown prince and the next king of Saudi Arabia.
Trained at Sandhurst military academy in Britain, he was the son of the late King Abdullah.
He is also the last remaining member of the Shammar branch of the Saudi royal family to retain an important position.
Saudi officials have not given an immediate comment.
Saudi sources corroborated messages posted on Twitter by Saudi royal family members who had posted about the release of both Price Miteb and his brother.
"Almighty, thanks be to you…" wrote Abeer bint Khaled bin Abdullah in a posting on her Twitter account. Posting an apparent file photo of Prince Miteb, she added: "May God give you long life, long life full of health, and keep you for us."
اللهم لك الحمد حتى ترضى ولك الحمد إذا رضيت ولك الحمد بعد الرضا
الله يطول عمرك و يعطيك طولة العمر بالصحة و العافية و يخليك لناpic.twitter.com/3CEDqrb8zm
— عبير بنت خالد بن عبدالله (@AbeerKhalidAA) November 28, 2017
Writing on his Twitter account, Moaid Mahjoob, who identifies himself as director of external relations for Princess Jawahar Al-Saud, another Saudi royal family member, said Prince Miteb "had been released and that he was at his home in Riyadh".
Another royal family member, Princess Nouf bint Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud, also posted a similar message on Twitter, writing over a photo of Prince Miteb: "May you be safe for us, Abu Abdullah."
The posting of a photo and thanksgiving to God indicates the author of the Tweet believes Prince Miteb has been freed.
It remains unclear whether Miteb had handed over his assets to the Saudi authorities.
MEE understand that negotiations are underway for the release of Prince Waleed bin Talal.
Miteb headed the Saudi National Guard, an elite internal security force originally based on traditional tribal units that was run by his father for five decades.
