Erdogan calls for Khashoggi suspects to be tried in Turkey

Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi journalist last seen visiting his country’s consulate in Istanbul on October 2, was murdered in a premeditated and “savage” manner, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday.

The Turkish leader, who made the statement the day after the Saudi authorities admitted that the former Washington Post columnist - who was very critical of the Saudi monarchy - was “murdered” at the consulate, also explained that three Saudi agents arrived in Turkey on the eve of the journalist’s disappearance and were staying near the consulate.

The police, who have not yet found Khashoggi’s body, have carried out unsuccessful searches of where the agents stayed. On the day after the arrival of what now seems like a reconnaissance mission, twelve other Saudis arrived in Istanbul, including security, intelligence and forensic experts, and consulate employees were given time off. The consulate’s security cameras were also disabled.

Erdogan revealed Turkey’s suspicions that Khashoggi was killed and dismembered within the consulate by Saudi agents, and yesterday called for them to be handed over for trial. He avoided mentioning the name of Saudi prince, Mohammed bin Salman, who has been connected with the incident.