Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, now the next in line to take over the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was one of several defendants sued last year for his alleged support of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

 

After paying more than $215 million in claims by families of those killed in the attacks, Lloyd’s insurance filed a lawsuit seeking reimbursement from multiple parties, including Salman.

 

In the lawsuit, Salman is identified as an “individual patron” of al-Qaeda and as the leader of the Saudi High Commission for Relief to Bosnia and Herzegovina (SHC). According to the lawsuit, “Under Prince Salman’s leadership, the SHC served as a primary front for supporting al Qaeda’s operations in the Balkans….A U.N. sponsored investigation further determined that Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz al Saud, the head of the SHC, transferred in excess of $120 million from his personal accounts and SHC accounts under his control to the Third World Relief Agency (‘TWRA’), between July of 1992 and July of 1995. According to the 9/11 Commission, the TWRA was an al Qaeda front and the primary pipeline for illegal arms shipments to al Qaeda fighters in the Balkans. The U.N. sponsored audit of the TWRA’s records suggested that the SHC’s lavish funding of TWRA commenced shortly after a personal meeting between Prince Salman and the head of the TWRA. As the SHC had a robust operational presence of its own in Bosnia, there was no legitimate ‘humanitarian’ reason for it to send any funds to the TWRA.”

 

The Lloyd’s lawsuit also accuses Salman of supporting anti-Israeli terrorists. “Prince Salman also serves as the chairman of the Popular Committees for Support of the Palestinian Jihadis, a Saudi government entity that supports terrorism by donating money to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers.”

 

At the time of the litigation, Salman was governor of Riyadh, a position he held for nearly 50 years. He was promoted to defense minister in November.

 

Salman, 76, was officially named the No. 2 to King Abdullah, 88, following the death of Crown Prince Nayef bin Albdulaziz al-Saud.

 

Described as a “moderate conservative,” Salman has a “reputation as an austere, hard-working family disciplinarian whose tasks included controlling the special jail for princes run amok,” according to Neil MacFarquhar of The New York Times.

-David Wallechinsky, Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Defense Minister New Heir to Throne in Saudi Arabia (by Neil MacFarquhar, New York Times)

Lloyd’s Sues Members of Saudi Royal Family for Funding Al-Qaeda in 9/11 Attacks (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)

Newly Released Documents Show Saudi Ruling Family Support for Al-Qaeda (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)