[Guardian-UK] David Leigh and Rob Evans - Saudi Arabia's rulers threatened to make it easier for terrorists to attack London unless corruption investigations into their arms deals were halted, according to court documents revealed Thursday. Previously secret files describe how investigators were told they faced "another 7/7" and the loss of "British lives on British streets" if they pressed on with their inquiries. Prince Bandar, the head of the Saudi national security council, and son of the crown prince, was alleged in court to be the man behind the threats to hold back information about suicide bombers and terrorists. He faces accusations that he himself took more than £1bn in secret payments from the arms company BAE. The U.S. Department of Justice has launched its own investigation under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act into the British money received in the U.S. by Bandar while he was ambassador to Washington. Prince Bandar Thursday did not contest a U.S. court order preventing him from taking the proceeds of property sales out of the country.
2008-02-18 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive