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Search for Khashoggi's remains extends to Saudi consul general's residence Search for Khashoggi's remains extends to Saudi consul general's residence
(about 2 hours later)
Floodlights and a drone have been deployed in the search of the Saudi consul general’s residence in Istanbul after Turkish investigators were finally allowed access to the property, where it is believed a Saudi hit squad sent to silence the dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi disposed of his remains.Floodlights and a drone have been deployed in the search of the Saudi consul general’s residence in Istanbul after Turkish investigators were finally allowed access to the property, where it is believed a Saudi hit squad sent to silence the dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi disposed of his remains.
The forensics team left the premises early on Thursday after conducting a nine hour sweep of the residence and consular vehicles. The consulate itself was also searched for a second time. The forensics team left the premises early on Thursday after conducting a nine-hour sweep of the residence and consular vehicles. The consulate itself was also searched for a second time.
Of particular focus to investigators appeared to be the garage below the consul general’s home, and parts of the property’s garden were dug up.Of particular focus to investigators appeared to be the garage below the consul general’s home, and parts of the property’s garden were dug up.
It was not immediately clear what the search unearthed, although investigators took several boxes and bags with them. The Turkish interior ministry promised the results would be “shared with the world”. It was not immediately clear what the search revealed, but investigators took several boxes and bags away with them. The Turkish interior ministry promised the results would be “shared with the world”.
On Thursday the Turkish pro-government newspaper Sabah published pictures taken from surveillance video outside the consulate which it said identified a man thought to be a member of the Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman’s security staff entering the building on the morning of 2 October, the day Khashoggi vanished.
In the video, the suspect is seen arriving with several other men at 9.55am. Khashoggi arrived for an appointment at 1.14pm.
Sabah also published stills from videos that day showing the same man outside the consul general’s home and, later, checking out of a nearby hotel. The stills match the profile of one of the 15 Saudi nationals who were photographed two weeks ago at Istanbul’s Atatürk airport. Turkish officials believe that the 15-person team was behind the alleged murder inside the diplomatic mission.
A previous search of the consulate building on Monday night revealed “toxic substances” and freshly painted surfaces, the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, told reporters.
The consul general, Mohammad al-Otaibi, left the country with his family for Riyadh on Tuesday, after it was announced that his residence would become part of the criminal investigation.
Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist who left Saudi Arabia for the US in self-imposed exile last year, has not been seen since he visited the consulate on 2 October to pick up paperwork for his planned marriage.
Over the past two weeks Turkish officials have leaked increasingly shocking evidence that they say proves that the journalist, who was critical of the Saudi crown prince, was tortured and killed inside the building and his dismembered body was driven to the nearby consul general’s house where it was disposed of.
Turkish and US media published details from a three-minute audio recording on Wednesday that Turkish officials described as proof that Khashoggi had his fingers severed during an interrogation. His killers then allegedly beheaded him and cut up his body with a bone saw brought by a forensics specialist who travelled with the assassination team.
On the tape, the alleged doctor can be heard explaining that he likes to listen to music while he works, and encouraging others in the room to put headphones on.
Riyadh has denied the allegations, despite reports in the US media that the kingdom was considering acknowledging that Khashoggi may have died in a botched rendition operation.
Jamal Khashoggi is one of the Arab world’s most prominent journalists and commentators. He is an outspoken critic of Saudi Arabia who has dared to defy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler.Jamal Khashoggi is one of the Arab world’s most prominent journalists and commentators. He is an outspoken critic of Saudi Arabia who has dared to defy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler.
While living in Saudi Arabia, Khashoggi was told to stop writing or posting on Twitter, where he has more than 1.6 million followers. He moved to the US more than a year ago, where he continued to comment on his country both in print and on television. He wrote columns for the Washington Post and the Guardian.While living in Saudi Arabia, Khashoggi was told to stop writing or posting on Twitter, where he has more than 1.6 million followers. He moved to the US more than a year ago, where he continued to comment on his country both in print and on television. He wrote columns for the Washington Post and the Guardian.
His message struck a nuanced tone in the US, where he tried to acknowledge the reforms undertaken by Bin Salman while also highlighting the flaws.His message struck a nuanced tone in the US, where he tried to acknowledge the reforms undertaken by Bin Salman while also highlighting the flaws.
Khashoggi previously had close links with the Saudi royal family, including having served as a media aide to Prince Turki al-Faisal, when the latter was director general of the Saudi intelligence agency.Khashoggi previously had close links with the Saudi royal family, including having served as a media aide to Prince Turki al-Faisal, when the latter was director general of the Saudi intelligence agency.
He is also a former editor of the Saudi newspaper al-Watan and had worked with Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a grandson of the first Saudi king who was detained last year as part of what the authorities said was an anti-corruption campaign.He is also a former editor of the Saudi newspaper al-Watan and had worked with Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a grandson of the first Saudi king who was detained last year as part of what the authorities said was an anti-corruption campaign.
The Turkish pro-government newspaper Sabah published pictures on Thursday taken from surveillance video outside the consulate which it said identified a man thought to be a member of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s security staff entering the building on the morning of 2 October, the day Khashoggi vanished.
The suspect is seen arriving with several other men at 9.55am. Khashoggi arrived for an appointment at 1.14pm.
Sabah also published stills from videos that day showing the same man outside the consul general’s home and later checking out of a nearby hotel. The stills match the profile of one of the 15 Saudi nationals photographed two weeks ago at Istanbul’s Atatürk airport. Turkish officials believe the 15-person team was behind the alleged murder inside the diplomatic mission.
A previous search of the consulate on Monday night revealed “toxic substances” and freshly painted surfaces, the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, told reporters.
The consul general, Mohammad al-Otaibi, left the country with his family for Riyadh on Tuesday, after it was announced that his residence would become part of the criminal investigation.
The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, said on Thursday that Riyadh and Ankara should be given a few more days to complete their investigation, and raised the possibility that the US might ultimately choose not to respond. He said the long US-Saudi alliance should be taken into account.
Speaking at the White House after briefing Donald Trumpon his trip to Riyadh and Ankara, Pompeo said: “I told President Trump this morning that we ought to give them a few more days to complete [the enquiry] so that we would have complete understanding of the facts surrounding that, at which point we can make decisions about how, or if, the United States should respond to the incidents surrounding Mr Khashoggi,.
“I think it’s important for us to remember that we have had, since 1932, a long strategic relationship with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist who left Saudi Arabia for the US in self-imposed exile last year, has not been seen since he visited the consulate on 2 October to pick up paperwork for his planned marriage.
Over the past two weeks Turkish officials have leaked increasingly shocking evidence that they say proves that the journalist, who was critical of the Saudi crown prince, was tortured and killed inside the building and his dismembered body driven to the nearby consul general’s house where it was disposed of.
Turkish and US media published details from a three-minute audio recording on Wednesday that Turkish officials described as proof that Khashoggi had his fingers severed during an interrogation. His killers then allegedly beheaded him and cut up his body with a bone saw brought by a forensics specialist who travelled with the assassination team.
On the tape, the alleged doctor can be heard explaining that he likes to listen to music while he works, and encouraging others in the room to put headphones on.
Riyadh has denied the allegations, despite reports in the US media that the kingdom was considering acknowledging that Khashoggi may have died in a botched rendition operation.
On Thursday, the UK’s international trade secretary, Liam Fox, and the French finance minister, Bruno Le Maire, joined a growing list of government ministers and prominent business executives cancelling their attendance at a Saudi Arabia investment conference.On Thursday, the UK’s international trade secretary, Liam Fox, and the French finance minister, Bruno Le Maire, joined a growing list of government ministers and prominent business executives cancelling their attendance at a Saudi Arabia investment conference.
Both the UK and France enjoy close diplomatic ties and commercial relations with Riyadh spanning energy, finance and arms. The UK’s Department for International Trade said the “time is not right” for Fox to go to the Future Investment Initiative on 23 October. Le Maire said his absence would not jeopardise French relations with the Saudis.Both the UK and France enjoy close diplomatic ties and commercial relations with Riyadh spanning energy, finance and arms. The UK’s Department for International Trade said the “time is not right” for Fox to go to the Future Investment Initiative on 23 October. Le Maire said his absence would not jeopardise French relations with the Saudis.
Despite the growing body of evidence and a tide of international condemnation over the alleged murder, the House of Saud’s friends in the Trump administration have stood firmly by their most important Arab ally.Despite the growing body of evidence and a tide of international condemnation over the alleged murder, the House of Saud’s friends in the Trump administration have stood firmly by their most important Arab ally.
Donald Trump has suggested on several occasions that he believes the denials of responsibility from King Salman and Mohammed bin Salman, speculating without providing evidence that “rogue killers” could be to blame.
On Wednesday night the president said the US had asked Turkey to share the audio recording. He is waiting to be briefed on Thursday by his secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, whom he dispatched to Riyadh and Ankara this week in search of answers over Khashoggi’s disappearance.
Jamal KhashoggiJamal Khashoggi
Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia
TurkeyTurkey
Mohammed bin SalmanMohammed bin Salman
Middle East and North AfricaMiddle East and North Africa
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