Nepal envoy survives knife attack in Riyadh

Riyadh: The head of the Nepalese Embassy survived a knife attack on Thursday in Riyadh.

Confirming the assault on Ananda Prasad Sharma, charge d’affaires of the Nepalese Embassy, informed sources told Arab News that the diplomat, who was admitted to King Faisal Specialist Hospital, was discharged following treatment.

A spokesman at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said a Nepali national, who was taking shelter at the embassy, attacked Sharma with a knife.

Sharma was working at his office when the assailant approached him.

According to a statement published in a newspaper in Katmandu, the motive behind the attack is not yet clear and the name and other details of the attacker have not yet been disclosed.

However, Arab News learned that the assailant is a runaway worker who had sought asylum at the mission.

The suspect was nabbed by police and they are currently investigating the attack for necessary legal action.

The Nepalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the incident against the diplomatic official and added that the embassy had been directed to look into the issue and report at the earliest.

Spokesperson Tara Prasad Pokharel said that the attacker was living at a shelter on the Nepali Embassy premises for some time after being declared “illegal” in the Kingdom and was in the process of returning home.