Faisal bin Musaid Al Saud (Arabic: فيصل بن مساعد آل سعود, Fayṣal bin Musāʿid ʾĀl Suʿūd; 4 April 1944 – 18 June 1975) was the assassin and nephew of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia and a grandson of Saudi Arabia's founder King Abdulaziz.

[6] While that is the official version, the details of his death are disputed and some reports allege that he actually died resisting arrest outside his own home.

Allis Bens, director of the American Language Institute at San Francisco State, said, "He was friendly and polite and very well brought up, it seemed to me.

[9] In 1971, he received a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Colorado and then returned to the San Francisco Bay area.

[5] Surma viewed the Saudi interest "in achieving peace with Israel" as a positive outcome "not available with the previous ruler King Faisal".

[12] A sharia court found Faisal guilty of the king's murder on 18 June, and his public execution occurred hours later.

[2][13] Cars with loudspeakers drove around Riyadh publicly announcing the verdict and his imminent execution, and crowds gathered in the square.

[9] Following such claims, a theory started in Iranian media mentioned that he might have been manipulated by his Western girlfriend (Christine Surma) who, it was alleged, might have been Jewish and secretly an asset for the Israeli intelligence services.

The rumor was briefly taken seriously by Saudi Arabian officials who informally contacted Surma to question her regarding the assassination, at which point she revealed she was not Jewish and was as puzzled as everyone else regarding the actions of Faisal.

[7] An-Nahar also reported that King Faisal had ignored his repeated complaints that his $3,500 monthly allowance ($16,700/month in 2020 dollars, $200,500/year) was insufficient and this may have prompted the assassination.

[7] Al Bayrak reported that according to reliable Saudi sources, King Faisal prohibited him from leaving the country because of his excessive consumption of alcohol and other drugs and the attack may have been a retaliation against the travel ban.