Turkey has proof Saudi journalist Khashoggi was killed, says Washington Post
Turkey's government has told US officials it has audio and video proof that missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed and dismembered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, the Washington Post reported on Friday.
The newspaper, for which Khashoggi is a columnist, cited anonymous officials as saying the recordings show a Saudi security team detained the writer when he went to the consulate on October 2 to pick up a document for his upcoming wedding.
The Associated Press was not immediately able to confirm the report, and Turkish officials would not comment.
Meanwhile, a delegation from Saudi Arabia arrived in Turkey on Friday as part of an investigation into the writer's disappearance, Turkey's state-run news agency Anadolu said.
Saudi Arabia has called the allegation it abducted or harmed Khashoggi “baseless.” However, it has offered no evidence to support its claim he left the consulate and vanished despite his fiance waiting outside.
Anadolu Agency said the delegation would hold talks with Turkish officials over the weekend. It did not provide further details.
On Thursday, Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said Turkey and Saudi Arabia would form a “joint working group” to look into Khashoggi's disappearance.
The 59-year-old journalist, who was considered close to the Saudi royal family, had became a critic of the current government and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the 33-year-old heir apparent who has introduced reforms but shown little tolerance for criticism.
Khashoggi had been living in self-imposed exile in the United States since last year. As a contributor to the Washington Post, he has written extensively about Saudi Arabia, including criticism of its war in Yemen, its recent diplomatic spat with Canada and its arrest of women's rights activists after the lifting of a ban on women driving.
Those policies are all seen as initiatives of the crown prince, who has also presided over a roundup of activists and businessmen.
Comments (34) Closed
They don't need a delegation. They need a forensic team. Blood evidence is not that easy to wash away. Traces can be found in many places like cracks in the floor. Droplets can have been missed on a wall or under the molding along a wall. Under a carpet.
'Missing' Saudi journalist Khashoggi seems gone missing forever !
Khashoggi will be missing for a long long time.
I say to Saudi delegation, prove your innocent through CCTV coverage, otherwise, nobody will believe your fake story. What happened to anti Saudi critics - was he kidnapped or terminated, and where is he now?
Saudi govt has started a dangerous game, bound to back fire heavily.
Big trouble between KSA and Turkey brewing
The Saudi consulate in Istanbul is flying the black flag. Its true colors.
It would be interesting now to see what Foreign Office say on this issue. In all probability, it may support SA.
@Alba I don’t want to seem rude but with such an operation that has a government’s backing, these days things are already taken care of. The walls, roof and floors would have been covered before they did it. I just hope that he can find peace hereafter.
Why US seeks answers? This is the matter between two nations; Saudi and Turkey. Turkey has the authority to question and carry out complete investigation. My question to US still remains unanswered when they got their man who killed Pakistani in accident in Islamabad, the killer got away! Why, US didn't uphold the law of the land?
There is no doubt Turkish intelligence has listening capabilities inside of the Saudi counsalate. Turks are no dummies. Considering all the pre-existing tensions between the two, it would be derelict on their part not to be listening in.
Saudis have become very intolerant under new regime. They can’t handle any dissent or criticism.
Surprising that Foreign Office has not yet issued statement supporting the stand of SA. A friend in need is a friend indeed. The Govt must do it urgently.
Truth will never come out. Turkey and Saudi Arab and others will negotiate and Saudi may give some benefit. Common people like us will never know and will always remain in suspense.
sanctions
russia got sanctions y is saudi not getting it
@tQ nothing will happen.the powers that are will just sweep it under the carpet and world will carry on.
@Alba Should have checked sewer lines for any traces of blood as part of initial investigation.
A great test case for the racist, bigot and biased Donald Trump and his cunning, crooked and criminal cronies, who always falsely claim to be champions of equal human rights and equitable human dignity for people of all races, faiths, colors, gender, ethnicities, influence, family background, positions and national origin.
Old habits die hard! Saudis will have to face the reality some day.....how long can they fool the world and how long will the petro- dollars serve them???
Where are the human rights groups and activists?
Saudis innocent.
Saudi Arabia’s only response against all this evidence is “nope, wasn’t us.”
Cctv footage of him entering and exiting without any cuts in the video and forensically checked, should be the way forward.
@aisha always innocent
Turkey and US are both helpless since the Commander chief in US and his ally on throne in KSA really do not really care what the world says.
Meanwhile, a cover up team from Saudi Arabia arrived in Turkey on Friday as part of an investigation into the writer's disappearance.
In the consulate the journalist spilled spot remover on himself. Now the Saudis can't find him.
World should stop Saudis from committing crimes
As long as USA gets their share of Saudi Petro dollars the al Saud criminal syndicate is OK.
Saudi have to answer killing of Khashoggi, this is not Yemen, where Saudi killing innocent children, they started in Turkey. The Great Mistake and Human killing.
Why khaskhoggi was writing against the govt of Saudia, those who do so will face the fate
Barbarian act against it's own citizens.
As long as Mr.Trump is getting his share of the Saudi oil money, rest assured, he will do nothing. Saudi Arabia has skilled hundreds of thousands of Yemenis and what has US done? NOTHING. All this cry of democracy is a white wash. The Saudis have been pouring so much money into the coffers of the American rulers, whether it be the Presidents or the Congress, that they would be stupid to take any steps to risk that free flow. The living proof is the question: What did America do the the Saudis after 9/11? It razed Iraq. Were the 16 of the 19 involved Iraqis? Or was this also a conspiracy of the Saudis? Of course it was.