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Jamal Khashoggi: All you need to know about Saudi journalist's death Jamal Khashoggi: All you need to know about Saudi journalist's death
(25 days later)
On 2 October, Jamal Khashoggi, a well-known journalist and critic of the Saudi government, walked into the country's consulate in Istanbul, where he was murdered.On 2 October, Jamal Khashoggi, a well-known journalist and critic of the Saudi government, walked into the country's consulate in Istanbul, where he was murdered.
Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor has said that Khashoggi was killed inside the building on the orders of an intelligence officer. Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor has said Khashoggi was killed inside the building on the orders of a rogue intelligence officer.
Turkish officials however say they have evidence, including gruesome audio recordings, that the journalist was killed by a team of Saudi agents on orders that came from the highest levels. Turkish officials however say they have evidence, including gruesome audio recordings, that the journalist was killed by a team of Saudi agents on orders that came from the highest levels. His body has not yet been found.
The steady stream of disturbing allegations, along with the complex diplomatic situation, means that it can be difficult to keep track of the full story.The steady stream of disturbing allegations, along with the complex diplomatic situation, means that it can be difficult to keep track of the full story.
So here is what we know about the case.So here is what we know about the case.
Who was Jamal Khashoggi?Who was Jamal Khashoggi?
As a prominent journalist, he covered major stories including the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the rise of Osama Bin Laden for various Saudi news organisations.As a prominent journalist, he covered major stories including the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the rise of Osama Bin Laden for various Saudi news organisations.
For decades, he was close to the Saudi royal family and also served as an adviser to the government. For decades, the 59-year-old was close to the Saudi royal family and also served as an adviser to the government.
But he fell out of favour and went into self-imposed exile in the US last year. From there, he wrote a monthly column in the Washington Post in which he criticised the policies of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. But he fell out of favour and went into self-imposed exile in the US last year. From there, he wrote a monthly column in the Washington Post in which he criticised the policies of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, known as MBS.
In his first column for the newspaper, Khashoggi said he feared being arrested in an apparent crackdown on dissent overseen by the prince since he became first in line to succeed his father King Salman. In his first column for the newspaper, Khashoggi said he feared being arrested in an apparent crackdown on dissent overseen by the prince since he became first in line to succeed his father, King Salman.
"The people being arrested are not even being dissidents, they just have an independent mind," he told the BBC's Newshour programme three days before he disappeared.
Why was he at the consulate?Why was he at the consulate?
He first visited the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 28 September to obtain a document certifying that he had divorced his ex-wife, so that he could marry his Turkish fiancée. He first visited the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 28 September to obtain divorce documents to allow him to remarry.
But he was told he would have to return and arranged to come back on 2 October.But he was told he would have to return and arranged to come back on 2 October.
"He did not believe that something bad could happen on Turkish soil," his fiancée, Hatice Cengiz, wrote in the Washington Post. "He did not believe that something bad could happen on Turkish soil," his Turkish fiancée, Hatice Cengiz, wrote in the Post.
"Jamal was hardly concerned ahead of his second visit." He was last seen on CCTV arriving at 13:14 local time for his appointment.
He was seen on CCTV arriving at 13:14 local time for his appointment, which was scheduled for 13:30.
He reportedly told friends that he had been treated "very warmly" on his first visit and reassured them that he would not face any problems.He reportedly told friends that he had been treated "very warmly" on his first visit and reassured them that he would not face any problems.
Despite this, he gave Ms Cengiz two mobile phones and told her to call an adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan if he did not come back out.Despite this, he gave Ms Cengiz two mobile phones and told her to call an adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan if he did not come back out.
She ultimately waited for more than 10 hours outside the consulate and returned the following morning when Khashoggi had still not reappeared.She ultimately waited for more than 10 hours outside the consulate and returned the following morning when Khashoggi had still not reappeared.
What does Saudi Arabia say?What does Saudi Arabia say?
For more than two weeks Saudi Arabia consistently denied any knowledge of Khashoggi's fate.For more than two weeks Saudi Arabia consistently denied any knowledge of Khashoggi's fate.
Prince Mohammed told Bloomberg News that the journalist had left the consulate "after a few minutes or one hour". Crown Prince Mohammed told Bloomberg News that the journalist had left the consulate "after a few minutes or one hour".
"We have nothing to hide," he added."We have nothing to hide," he added.
Prince Mohammed's brother and the Saudi ambassador to the US, Prince Khaled bin Salman, claimed all reports about his disappearance or death were "completely false and baseless". In a change of tune, on 20 October, state television reported the journalist had in fact been murdered in a "rogue operation" on the orders of an intelligence officer.
But in the early hours of 20 October, state television reported the journalist had in fact died in the consulate after a fight. But Saudi officials continued to give conflicting explanations of what happened - among them, that Khashoggi had died in a chokehold after resisting attempts to return him to Saudi Arabia. There were also reports that a Saudi operative had donned his clothing and left the premises.
It later said that Khashoggi had been murdered in a "rogue operation" and vowed to punish "those responsible". More than a month later, on 15 November, the Saudi public prosecutor said Khashoggi was given a lethal injection after a struggle and his body was dismembered inside the consulate after his death.
A Saudi official told Reuters news agency at the time that Khashoggi had died in a chokehold after resisting attempts to return him to Saudi Arabia. His body was then rolled in a rug and given to a local "co-operator" to be disposed of. A Saudi operative then reportedly donned his clothes and left the premises.
The authorities announced the arrest of 18 Saudi nationals and dismissal of two senior officials - deputy intelligence chief Ahmad al-Assiri and Saud al-Qahtani, a senior aide to Prince Mohammed.
Saudi King Salman also ordered the formation of a ministerial committee, headed by the crown prince, to restructure the intelligence services in the wake of the initial inquiry.
Two days later, Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir described the killing as "murder", telling Fox News "a tremendous mistake" had been made. He denied that the crown prince had ordered the killing.
On 25 October, Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor was quoted in state media as saying Khashoggi's murder was "premeditated".
The prosecutor's account came after investigations by a joint Saudi-Turkish task force, broadcaster al-Ekhbariya said.
Then, at a news conference on 15 November, the Saudi public prosecutor said that Khashoggi was given a lethal injection after a struggle and his body was dismembered inside the consulate after his death.
The body parts were then handed over to a local "collaborator" outside the grounds, he added.The body parts were then handed over to a local "collaborator" outside the grounds, he added.
Eleven people have been charged over the journalist's death and the prosecutor is seeking the death penalty for five of them, although none of those officially charged have been identified. What action have they taken?
What does Turkey say happened to him? Saudi Arabia has detained 21 Saudi nationals and dismissed two senior officials - Deputy Intelligence Chief Ahmad al-Assiri and Saud al-Qahtani, a senior aide to Prince Mohammed.
Saudi King Salman also ordered a restructuring of the intelligence services - to be headed by the crown prince - in the wake of the initial inquiry.
Eleven people have so far been charged over the journalist's death and the prosecutor is seeking the death penalty for five of them, although none of those officially charged have been identified.
What does Turkey say happened?
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says there is evidence that the "savage" killing was planned days in advance.President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says there is evidence that the "savage" killing was planned days in advance.
He says three teams of 15 Saudi nationals arrived in Istanbul before the murder and that the group had removed the security cameras and surveillance footage from the consulate building prior to Khashoggi's arrival.He says three teams of 15 Saudi nationals arrived in Istanbul before the murder and that the group had removed the security cameras and surveillance footage from the consulate building prior to Khashoggi's arrival.
On 31 October, Turkey gave its first official statement on how it believes Khashoggi was killed, saying he was immediately strangled and his body was dismembered. Turkey says he was immediately strangled and his body dismembered. Turkish media also reported he had been tortured first.
Unnamed Turkish officials previously told the media he had been tortured first. Mr Erdogan says the order to kill Khashoggi came from the highest levels of the Saudi government but says it was unlikely that King Salman was behind it.
The reports said Turkey had audio and video recordings of the killing, without saying how they had been obtained. President Erdogan has not mentioned them. Saudi Arabia has denied the crown prince ordered the killing, and is refusing to extradite to Turkey any of the suspects.
Turkey's pro-government newspaper Yeni Safak quotes sources as saying that the Saudi consul general can be heard on one tape warning the alleged agents: "Do this outside. You're going to get me in trouble." Is there any evidence?
"Shut up if you want to live when you return to [Saudi] Arabia," a person can reportedly be heard telling the diplomat on another tape. In mid-November, Turkey said it had shared audio recordings of the killing with Saudi Arabia, US, UK, Germany and France. While these have not been made public, some details have been leaked by Turkish media.
On 10 November, Mr Erdogan said Turkey had given the recordings to Saudi Arabia, the US, the UK, Germany and France. One pro-government media source, Yeni Safak, said the Saudi consul general could be heard on one tape warning the alleged agents: "Do this outside. You're going to get me in trouble."
"They listened to the conversations which took place here, they know", he said. On 10 December, CNN reported that Khashoggi had told his killers "I can't breathe" in his final moments.
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau later said intelligence agents in his country had heard the recordings. No other country has so far admitted this. The news outlet, quoting an anonymous source who saw a transcript of the recording, also referenced the sounds of the critic's body "being dismembered by a saw".
He said one of the voices first heard in the recording was identified as Maher Mutreb, an intelligence official known to Khashoggi.
Mr Mutreb reportedly told the journalist: "You are coming back." Khashoggi, referring to his fiancée outside, replied: "You can't do that. People are waiting outside."
Turkey and Saudi Arabia have been conducting a joint investigation, with Turkish officials granted access to the Istanbul consulate for DNA testing more than two weeks after the incident.
Among the areas searched for Khashoggi's remains are the Belgrad forest, near the consulate, and some farmland in Yalova - where some Saudi consulate vehicles were seen heading on the day he was killed.
Who are the alleged Saudi agents?Who are the alleged Saudi agents?
One of the men, Maher Mutreb, served as a colonel in Saudi intelligence and was based at the country's embassy in London, the BBC understands. Turkish officials believe the men are Saudi officials and intelligence officers.
Four of the men have links to the Saudi crown prince and another is a senior figure in the country's interior ministry, reports say.
Turkish officials believe the men are Saudi officials and intelligence officers, an allegation that appears to be supported by open-source information that is freely available.
They say the group brought a bone saw into the country and that one of its members was a doctor who specialised in post-mortems.They say the group brought a bone saw into the country and that one of its members was a doctor who specialised in post-mortems.
Nine of the agents reportedly arrived on a private jet from the Saudi capital, Riyadh, at about 03:15 on the day Khashoggi visited the consulate. Four of the men reportedly have links to the Saudi crown prince and another is a senior figure in the country's interior ministry.
The rest of the suspected agents are reported to have arrived later that day on a second private jet or on commercial flights. The group then checked into two hotels near the consulate building. Most of them arrived at and departed from Istanbul airport by private or commercial jet the same day as the killing.
CCTV footage broadcast by Turkish TV appears to show groups of Saudi men entering the country via Istanbul airport and then checking into the hotels. CCTV footage appears to show vehicles driving them to the consulate, and two hours after Khashoggi's arrival, some of them heading to the residence of the Saudi consul.
It also shows vehicles driving up to the consulate an hour before Khashoggi's visit, including black vans thought to be central to inquiries. Saudi Arabia has so far pushed back against Turkey's demands to extradite any of the suspects.
One of the vans is reported to have taken some of the men from the consulate to the nearby residence of the Saudi consul about two hours after Khashoggi's arrival. How have Saudi Arabia's western allies reacted?
The group then left the country on the two private jets that flew to Riyadh via Cairo and Dubai, according to investigators. Khashoggi's killing, which has been internationally condemned, has caused a diplomatic crisis between Saudi Arabia and some of its closest allies, including the US.
After the murder was confirmed by the Saudis, President Trump described it as the "worst cover-up in history".
However, as the story has unfolded, he has persistently defended America's ties to the kingdom, a key trading partner in the region.
This response has been widely derided by senators in Congress who point the finger at MBS and want the US to take tougher action against Saudi Arabia by halting military sales.
According to US media reports, the CIA - whose boss, Gina Haspell, has heard the tapes - concluded Mohammed bin Salman was behind the order - though Donald Trump has denied this.
The US, Canada, France and the UK have all levied sanctions against 18 Saudis allegedly linked to the killing - although this does not include the Saudi crown prince.
Elsewhere, Germany, Finland and Denmark are among European nations to have cancelled arms deals with Saudi Arabia since the killing.
How did 2 October unfold?How did 2 October unfold?
This is the timeline of events, according to Turkish media. 03:28: The first private jet carrying suspected Saudi agents arrives at Istanbul airport
03:28: The first private jet carrying suspected Saudi agents arrives at Istanbul airport. 05:05: The group is seen checking into two hotels near the Saudi consulate building
05:05: The group is seen checking into two hotels near the Saudi consulate building. 12:13: Several diplomatic vehicles are filmed arriving at the consulate, allegedly carrying some of the Saudi agents
12:13: Several diplomatic vehicles are filmed arriving at the consulate, allegedly carrying some of the Saudi agents. 13:14: Khashoggi enters the building
13:14: Khashoggi enters the building. 15:08: Vehicles leave the consulate and are filmed arriving at the nearby Saudi consul's residence
15:08: Vehicles leave the consulate and are filmed arriving at the nearby Saudi consul's residence. 17:15: A second private jet carrying a number of suspected Saudi officials lands in Istanbul
17:15: A second private jet carrying a number of suspected Saudi officials lands in Istanbul. 17:33: Khashoggi's fiancée, Hatice Cengiz, is seen on CCTV waiting outside the consulate
17:33: Khashoggi's fiancée, Hatice Cengiz, is seen on CCTV waiting outside the consulate. 18:20: One of the private jets departs from Istanbul airport. The other plane leaves at 21:00
18:20: One of the private jets departs from Istanbul airport. The other plane leaves at 21:00.
How is the Turkish investigation progressing?
Turkish police were allowed to enter the Saudi consulate on 15 October, shortly after Saudi officials and a group of cleaners were seen entering the building.
Turkish police have now searched the consulate and the nearby Saudi consul's residence, and have taken samples away for DNA testing.
The police have also searched the nearby Belgrad forest and farmland in Yalova because it is believed at least two vehicles from the Saudi consulate headed in that direction on the day of the suspected killing.
More than a dozen Turkish nationals employed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, including receptionists, technicians, accountants and a driver, have been questioned by prosecutors.
King Salman and President Erdogan have agreed to exchange information and co-operate in the investigation.
But there is still no sign of the body.