Martial arts fan ‘used a crossbow to murder OAP’
THE United Nations has called for an investigation into allegations Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince was involved in hacking Amazon boss Jeff Bezos.
It is claimed that malware sent in a video file from a personal number linked to Mohammed bin Salman was used to infiltrate the mobile phone of the world’s richest man.
Bin Salman is also claimed to have taunted Bezos, said to be worth £84billion, with a photo of a woman who resembled his then mistress.
According to the New York Times newspaper, the prince and Bezos exchanged numbers at a Hollywood dinner in April 2018.
Weeks later, a “Trojan horse” virus in a WhatsApp message sent to Bezos’s phone extracted a huge haul of data within hours, according to forensics experts hired by the tycoon.
The hack took place eight months before his affair with Lauren Sanchez – now his partner – was exposed in US tabloid National Enquirer, which also detailed lewd photos and texts from the device. According to The New York Times, in November 2018 as Bezos was contemplating his divorce from his wife MacKenzie, bin Salman sent a photo of a woman who looked like Sanchez.
It had the caption: “Arguing with a woman is like reading the software license agreement. In the end, you have to ignore everything and click I agree.” The UN said it was “gravely concerned” by the allegations and called on the US and other member nations to launch an investigation.
The hack is alleged to have taken place five months before the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul.
Bin Salman has been accused of ordering the death of the prominent critic of the Saudi royal family who wrote for The Washington Post, which is owned by Bezos.
UN special rapporteurs Agnes Callamard and David Kaye said: “The information we have received suggests the possible involvement of the Crown Prince in surveillance of Mr Bezos, in an effort to influence, if not silence, The Washington Post’s reporting on Saudi Arabia.
“The allegations reinforce other reporting pointing to a pattern of targeted surveillance of perceived opponents and those of broader strategic importance to the Saudi authorities, including nationals and non-nationals.
“These allegations are relevant as well to ongoing evaluation of claims about the Crown Prince’s involvement in the 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi.”
Saudi Arabia’s US Embassy wrote on Twitter yesterday: “Recent media reports that suggest the Kingdom is behind a hacking of Mr Jeff Bezos’ phone are absurd.
“We call for an investigation on these claims so that we can have all the facts out.”
A RETIRED lecturer was murdered with “a silent and deadly” crossbow outside his remote coastal home, a court heard yesterday.
Gerald Corrigan, 74, was hit by a 20-inch bolt from the weapon as he adjusted his TV satellite dish low on a wall just after midnight.
A court heard he was targeted by martial arts fan Terence Whall, 39, who had allegedly tampered with the dish to lure him out of his cottage, near Holyhead in Anglesey.
Whall, from nearby Bryngwran, was trapped by a high-tech system on his Land Rover which recorded details of trips and the doors being opened, a jury heard.
Mold Crown Court heard Whall “scoped out” a route to the house, parked at a beach and walked up a path.
Prosecutor Peter Rouch said the killing had needed planning, reconnaissance and skill with a crossbow.
Whall’s vehicle was later found burned out and he admitted having owned a crossbow but claimed he had sold it before the attack.
He denies murder while he and three other local men deny charges relating to conspiracy and arson.The trial continues.