Turkish authorities have said that a prominent Saudi journalist who disappeared four days ago after entering Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul was killed inside the building, according to sources.
An official, speaking to Reuters news agency, said Jamal Khashoggi was killed in a premeditated murder and his body removed from the consulate.
They said: “The initial assessment of the Turkish police is that Mr Khashoggi has been killed at the consulate of Saudi Arabia in Istanbul.
Jamal Khashoggi is now thought to have been killed in a premeditated murder
Jamal Khashoggi is now thought to have been killed in a premeditated murder
“We believe that the murder was premeditated and the body was subsequently moved out of the consulate.”
The sources did not say how the killing was thought to have been carried out.
Saudi Arabia’s consul-general previously said his country was helping to search for Mr Khashoggi and dismissed talk of abduction.
He had not been seen since he entered the consulate on Tuesday
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He had not been seen since he entered the consulate on Tuesday
The journalist has lived in self-imposed exile in Washington for the last year, fearing retribution for his views on Saudi policies.