KUWAIT CITY, Oct 15: Head of the Private Arab Satellite Stations Association Sheikh Fahad Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah, who was attacked by an unknown assailant in Paris on Thursday, said he survived an assassination attempt, “thanks to divine intervention.”

Sheikh Fahad, who is the son of the head of Kuwait National Guards HH Sheikh Salem Al-Ali, refuted reports that it was just an abortive theft attempt.

Some sources had earlier said that it was only an attempt to rob Sheikh Fahad and the gun used in the attempt had been a fake one.

Talking to Al-Seyassah daily after being discharged from the intensive care unit of a hospital on Friday, Sheikh Fahad explained that after he finished speaking at a conference on satellite stations, where he talked about his plans to launch a private satellite station ‘Mubasher’ and the importance of applying moderation, he returned to his hotel, only to be followed by an anonymous man who tried to shoot at him, “but with the grace of God, the gun malfunctioned.”  Sheikh Fahad added that the man then hit him on the head and leg with the butt of his gun, and fled away. He confirmed that French securitymen had commenced investigation to apprehend the culprit but that matters were still not clear to them.

When asked why anyone would want to assassinate him, Sheikh Fahad said he didn’t know if there was a political motive, but claimed that the project he is currently working on in Europe probably didn’t suit some people. He, however, refused to disclose the nature of the project. When asked about the nationality of the attacker, he said until now no one knows from where the man came and whether he is a Kuwaiti or not. “These things will be clear only when the culprit is apprehended,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Kuwaiti diplomatic circles in Paris maintained their stand that it wasn’t a murder attempt. The Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and acting Foreign Affairs Minister Roudhan Al-Roudhan, in a statement to Al-Seyassah, affirmed that the Embassy is in constant touch with French authorities and is trying to find the identity of the criminal and circumstances behind the attack. Al-Roudhan stressed that Sheikh Fahd is in a stable state of health and that Ambassador Ali Al-Said was with him on Thursday to ensure adequate treatment and services.

Sources say Sheikh Fahd received numerous calls from political leaders, and has made calls to his family to assure them of his good health. His brother, Sheikh Ahmad Salem Al-Ali, left for Paris Friday to escort him back to the country in the next few days.