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Jamal Khashoggi: What we know about journalist’s disappearance Jamal Khashoggi: All you need to know about journalist's disappearance
(2 days later)
Jamal Khashoggi, a well-known journalist and critic of the Saudi government, walked into the country's consulate in Istanbul on 2 October to obtain some documents and has not been seen since. It has been more than two weeks since Jamal Khashoggi, a well-known journalist and critic of the Saudi government, walked into the country's consulate in Istanbul and disappeared.
His fiancée fears that he has been kidnapped or killed. The authorities in Istanbul believe he was murdered by Saudi agents and say they have evidence to back this up. Saudi Arabia insists that he left the consulate shortly after he arrived. Turkish officials believe he was murdered by a team of Saudi agents inside the building and say they have evidence, including gruesome audio recordings, to back this up.
Here is what we know - and don't know - about his disappearance. Saudi Arabia denies this claim, and initially insisted that Mr Khashoggi had left the consulate shortly after he arrived.
Who is he? 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.
Mr Khashoggi is a prominent journalist who has covered major stories, including the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the rise of Osama Bin Laden, for various Saudi news organisations. So here is what we know - and don't know - about the case.
He served as an adviser to top Saudi officials, but later fell out of favour with the government. Who is Jamal Khashoggi?
He went into self-imposed exile in the US last year, and has written a monthly column in the Washington Post in which he has criticised the policies of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He is a prominent journalist who has covered major stories, including the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the rise of Osama Bin Laden, for various Saudi news organisations.
For decades, Mr Khashoggi had been close to the Saudi royal family and he 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 has written a monthly column in the Washington Post in which he has criticised the policies of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
In his first column for the newspaper, Mr Khashoggi said that 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 earlier that year.In his first column for the newspaper, Mr Khashoggi said that 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 earlier that year.
"The people being arrested are not even being dissidents, they just have an independent mind," he told the BBC's Newshour programme just three days before he disappeared."The people being arrested are not even being dissidents, they just have an independent mind," he told the BBC's Newshour programme just three days before he disappeared.
You can read excerpts from some of his previous columns here.
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, but he was told he would have to return. 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.
Mr Khashoggi arranged to come back on 2 October and arrived at 13:14 local time for his appointment, which was scheduled for 13:30. But he was told he would have to return and arranged to come back on the 2 October.
"He did not mind walking into the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul because he did not believe that something bad could happen on Turkish soil," his fiancée, Hatice Cengiz, wrote in the Washington Post.
"Jamal was hardly concerned ahead of his second visit."
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 his Turkish fiancée Hatice Cengiz two mobile phones and told her to call an adviser to 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 on Wednesday morning when Mr Khashoggi had still not reappeared. She ultimately waited for more than 10 hours outside the consulate and returned the following morning when Mr Khashoggi had still not reappeared.
What does Turkey say happened to him?What does Turkey say happened to him?
Turkish officials say Mr Khashoggi was tortured and killed on the premises by a team of Saudi agents and that his body was then removed.Turkish officials say Mr Khashoggi was tortured and killed on the premises by a team of Saudi agents and that his body was then removed.
They have audio and video evidence to support this claim, a security source told the BBC.They have audio and video evidence to support this claim, a security source told the BBC.
However, the alleged recordings have not been made public.
"You can hear his voice and the voices of the men speaking Arabic," a separate source told the Washington Post. "You can hear how he was interrogated, tortured and then murdered.""You can hear his voice and the voices of the men speaking Arabic," a separate source told the Washington Post. "You can hear how he was interrogated, tortured and then murdered."
Pro-government Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak has published details of audio recordings, which it says show that Mr Khashoggi was tortured.Pro-government Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak has published details of audio recordings, which it says show that Mr Khashoggi was tortured.
The newspaper said Saudi Consul General Mohammed al-Otaibi can be heard on one tape warning the alleged Saudi agents: "Do this outside. You're going to get me in trouble."The newspaper said Saudi Consul General Mohammed al-Otaibi can be heard on one tape warning the alleged Saudi agents: "Do this outside. You're going to get me in trouble."
"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."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.
An unnamed senior official told the New York Times there was a complex operation in which Mr Khashoggi was killed within two hours of arriving and then dismembered.An unnamed senior official told the New York Times there was a complex operation in which Mr Khashoggi was killed within two hours of arriving and then dismembered.
Turkish employees at the consul's residence were also "hastily" told to leave on the day Mr Khashoggi disappeared, according to Turkish newspaper Sabah.
Who are the alleged Saudi agents?
Turkish media say they have identified a 15-member team of suspected Saudi agents who flew into and out of Istanbul on the day of the disappearance.Turkish media say they have identified a 15-member team of suspected Saudi agents who flew into and out of Istanbul on the day of the disappearance.
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.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.
Four of the men have links to the Saudi crown prince and another is a senior figure in the country's interior ministry, according to the New York Times. 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 say the group brought a bone saw into the country and that one of its members was a doctor who specialised in post-mortems. 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.
Nine of the agents reportedly arrived on a private jet from the Saudi capital, Riyadh, at around 03:15 on the day Mr Khashoggi visited the consulate.Nine of the agents reportedly arrived on a private jet from the Saudi capital, Riyadh, at around 03:15 on the day Mr Khashoggi visited the consulate.
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 in to two hotels nearby the consulate building.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 in to two hotels nearby the consulate building.
CCTV footage broadcast by Turkish TV appears to show groups of Saudi men entering the country via Istanbul airport and then checking in to the hotels.CCTV footage broadcast by Turkish TV appears to show groups of Saudi men entering the country via Istanbul airport and then checking in to the hotels.
It also shows vehicles driving up to the consulate an hour before Mr Khashoggi's visit, including black vans thought to be central to inquiries.It also shows vehicles driving up to the consulate an hour before Mr Khashoggi's visit, including black vans thought to be central to inquiries.
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 Mr Khashoggi's arrival.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 Mr Khashoggi's arrival.
The group then left the country on the two private jets that flew to Riyadh via Cairo and Dubai, according to investigators.The group then left the country on the two private jets that flew to Riyadh via Cairo and Dubai, according to investigators.
Turkish employees at the consul's residence were also "hastily" told to leave on the day Mr Khashoggi disappeared, according to Turkish newspaper Sabah.
The Washington Post also reports that prior to Mr Khashoggi's visit, US intelligence had intercepted communications of Saudi officials discussing a plot to capture him.
How 2 October unfoldedHow 2 October unfolded
This is the timeline of events, according to Turkish media.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 nearby to the Saudi consulate building.05:05: The group is seen checking into two hotels nearby to 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: Mr Khashoggi enters the building.13:14: Mr 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: Mr Khashoggi's fiancée, Hatice Cengiz, is seen on CCTV waiting outside the consulate.17:33: Mr 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 final plane leaves at 21:00.18:20: One of the private jets departs from Istanbul airport. The final plane leaves at 21:00.
What does Saudi Arabia say?What does Saudi Arabia say?
Prince Mohammed told Bloomberg News earlier this month that his government was "very keen to know what happened" to Mr Khashoggi, and that the journalist had left the consulate "after a few minutes or one hour".Prince Mohammed told Bloomberg News earlier this month that his government was "very keen to know what happened" to Mr Khashoggi, and 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, has insisted all reports about his disappearance or death "are completely false and baseless".Prince Mohammed's brother and the Saudi ambassador to the US, Prince Khaled bin Salman, has insisted all reports about his disappearance or death "are completely false and baseless".
As the allegations began to mount the denials became more forceful. The foreign ministry posted a series of tweets, later deleted, that rejected the accusations as "attempts to undermine" the country.
But diplomatic pressure has been growing on the Saudis to give a fuller explanation and King Salman has ordered an investigation into the case.But diplomatic pressure has been growing on the Saudis to give a fuller explanation and King Salman has ordered an investigation into the case.
The country's foreign ministry has said it is "open to co-operation", and Turkish police were allowed to enter the consulate on 15 October. The country's foreign ministry has said it is "open to co-operation" in the ongoing investigation.
They arrived shortly after Saudi officials and a group of cleaners were seen entering the building.
US President Donald Trump has spoken to King Salman, and he said the Saudi leader had firmly denied knowing what had happened to Mr Khashoggi.US President Donald Trump has spoken to King Salman, and he said the Saudi leader had firmly denied knowing what had happened to Mr Khashoggi.
"It sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers," he told reporters, without providing any evidence to back his comment."It sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers," he told reporters, without providing any evidence to back his comment.
But there are unconfirmed reports in the US media that suggest Saudi Arabia is preparing to admit that Mr Khashoggi died as a result of an interrogation that went wrong. King Salman also met Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who agreed the country should have more time to complete their investigation.
The original intention had been to abduct him, reports say. But the New York Times reports that Saudi Arabia's leaders are considering blaming a high-level intelligence official for the killing.
This is being viewed as a recognition of the international outcry over the scandal, the newspaper says.
Is there any evidence?
Turkey has previously said it has audio and video evidence of Mr Khashoggi's murder, but these have not been made public.
Its foreign minister reiterated on Friday that Turkey had not shared audio recordings with anyone.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has strongly denied having listened to any recordings.
"I've heard no tape, I've seen no transcript," he told reporters.
Turkish media has published gruesome details of the alleged recordings. It says screams and the voice of the consul, Mohammed al-Otaibi, can be heard.
The Yeni Safak newspaper, which is close to the government, quotes him as telling alleged Saudi agents sent to Istanbul: "Do this outside. You're going to get me in trouble."
How is the Turkish investigation progressing?
Turkish police were allowed to enter the Saudi consulate on 15 October.
They arrived 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 BBC understands the police are also searching the nearby Belgrade 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.
Unnamed Turkish officials say Mr Khashoggi's body may have been disposed of in the forest or on farmland.
Meanwhile, 15 Turkish nationals employed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul have been questioned by prosecutors, state news agency Anadolu reports.
Those giving witness statements included receptionists, technicians, accountants and a driver, Anadolu said.