Dissident prince says Saudi planned vanishing act for him as Khashoggi case heats up

A Saudi prince living in exile in Germany, Khaled bin Farhan al-Saud, has claimed that authorities of the Kingdom planned to kidnap him, resembling the plot against prominent journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to British publication the Independent.

Khashoggi, a U.S. resident and leading critic of the Saudi crown prince, vanished after entering the consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. Turkish officials say they believe he was murdered there and his body removed, which the Saudis strongly deny.

The prince said that they had planned this plot against him just 10 days before Khashoggi went missing.

“Over 30 times the Saudi authorities have told me to meet them in the Saudi embassy but I have refused every time,” he said.

“I know what can happen if I go into the embassy,” said the 41-year-old prince.

He added that the authorities promised his family a large cheque if the prince agreed to come to Egypt to meet regime officials at the consulate.

CNN and the New York Times reported Saudi Arabia was preparing to acknowledge Khashoggi's death in a botched interrogation, after denying for two weeks any role in his disappearance.

“Just five days ago a group tried to visit King Salman saying they were afraid for the future of the al-Saud family, they mentioned Mr Khashoggi’s case. They were all put in jail,” he added.

Khashoggi, a familiar face on Arab talk shows, moved to Washington last year fearing retribution for his criticism of Prince Mohammed, who has cracked down on dissent with arrests.

The New York Times, citing a person familiar with the Saudi plans, reported the crown prince had approved an interrogation or abduction of Khashoggi. The Saudi government, it said, would shield the prince by blaming an intelligence official for the bungled operation.