Saudi Arabia arrests eight including US citizens

Saudi Arabia detained eight people, including two dual Us-saudi citizens and a pregnant woman, according to a Londonbased rights group.

It marks the first arrests to target individuals perceived as critics of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman since the killing of writer Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October.

The arrests come despite global outcry over Mr Khashoggi’s killing by Saudi agents in an operation directed by former top aides to the crown prince.

The arrested individuals, nearly all of whom were detained on Thursday, are not seen as front-line activists but writers, bloggers and advocates who quietly supported greater social reforms and most had ties to the group of women’s rights activists currently on trial.