Saudi teams in consulate vehicles scouted out Istanbul's Belgrad Forest before killing journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Footage has revealed that a Saudi team scouted in Istanbul's Belgrad Forest before the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to security sources on Wednesday.
As part of the probe launched by the Chief Public Prosecutors' Office in Istanbul, a special security team went through 2,000-hour-long footages from a total of 137 surveillance cameras at 62 points.
The team found that on Oct.1, the Saudi team scouted at the forest with a diplomatic vehicle that belonged to the consulate, while another photograph showed Khashoggi's arrival to Ataturk Airport on the same day.
The comprehensive investigation on surveillance cameras around the Saudi Consulate and in several areas of Istanbul -- including Levent and Sultanahmet -- reveals clues for the killing of Khashoggi step by step.
France will take appropriate measures if Saudi Arabia's guilt over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi is clearly established, government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux told reporters on Wednesday."As long as the facts have not been clearly established, and corroborated by our information services, we will not take any decision," said Griveaux."But on the other hand, once light has been shed on the matter and has been corroborated by our services, based on the hypothesis that Saudi Arabia's responsibility has been proven, then we would draw the necessary conclusions and take actions," he said, adding that such a move would not solely involve limiting arms sales. Saudi prince has 'blood on his hands' over Khashoggi: Erdoğan adviserBritain to stop suspects in Khashoggi death entering UKFrance says will take no 'hasty decision' on links with Saudi ArabiaKhashoggi body double used ‘to aid cover-up’ of killing: AP
France says will take 'appropriate action' if Saudi guilt in Khashoggi killing proven
The footages show activities of the 15 Saudis -- who arrived in Istanbul on two planes to kill Khashoggi and visited the consulate while he was still inside on Oct. 2 -- and the consulate officials.
Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, had gone missing since entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.
After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia last week claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz sacked the deputy of the intelligence service and a top aide and ordered the arrest of 18 suspects over the case.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday laid out his country’s initial findings in its investigation, saying Khashoggi's murder was "premeditated".
Intensive discussions are underway in the German government on how to deal with arms exports to Saudi Arabia that have already been approved but not yet delivered, government spokesman Steffen Seibert said on Wednesday.Chancellor Angela Merkel vowed on Monday to halt all German arms exports to Saudi Arabia until the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi is cleared up.Asked whether this included arms exports that had already been approved but not yet delivered, Seibert told reporters: "Regarding the question of how to deal with permits already granted, or goods that have not yet been delivered, there are intensive discussions in the government on this at the moment, and we will have to examine this very carefully."Seibert said the review would be completed in the coming days, looking carefully at the arms sales from both a political and legal perspective. "We're not talking about weeks or months."Saudi prince has 'blood on his hands' over Khashoggi: Erdoğan adviserA spokesman for the economy ministry said German officials were in close touch with other European countries about the issue, but declined to provide any details about progress in Berlin's push to ensure a unified European response."We're working on it," the spokesman said.Germany has been more outspoken than other countries about stopping arms sales to Saudi Arabia after Khashoggi's death in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday refused to take questions about halting arms sales. From 2008-17, Saudi Arabia was the second-biggest purchaser of French arms, with deals totalling more than 11 billion euros.Britain to stop suspects in Khashoggi death entering UKGerman weapons account for under 2 percent of Saudi Arabia's arms purchases.Merkel's centre-left coalition government has slowed approvals for all arms exports since taking office in March, an industry source said, reflecting widespread scepticism among a public whose views are still coloured by Germany's Nazi past.A poll released Wednesday by Die Welt newspaper showed that 65 percent of Germans believed Germany should stop doing business with Saudi Arabia.The economics ministry said the government approved arms exports valued at 2.57 billion in the first half of the year, about 1 billion euros less than in the same period of 2017, but said a single large order could cause wide variations.Sales to the European Union, NATO and other close allies accounted for 1 billion euros of total arms exports approved in the first half, while sales to other countries such as Algeria and Saudi Arabia reached 1.54 billion euros, the ministry said. Trump says Saudi prince 'running things,' could be behind Khashoggi death: WSJFrance says will take no 'hasty decision' on links with Saudi ArabiaIran: Riyadh would not have murdered Khashoggi without US protectionTurkey won't let Khashoggi killers escape justice: Erdoğan
Germany mulling whether to stop approved arms exports to Saudi
An adviser to Turkey's leader said on Wednesday Saudi Arabia's crown prince had "blood on his hands" over Jamal Khashoggi's killing, the bluntest comments yet from someone linked to Tayyip Erdoğan about Riyadh's de facto ruler in connection with the death.Saudi authorities did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment about the remarks.Riyadh has blamed a "rogue operation" for the death of the prominent Saudi journalist, and said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had no knowledge of the killing.Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, disappeared on Oct. 2 when he visited the consulate to obtain documents for his upcoming marriage. After weeks of denying any knowledge of his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia said Khashoggi was killed in a fistfight in the consulate.The kingdom's shifting explanations have met incredulity internationally and stirred deepening criticism from Turkey and the West. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday Saudi authorities staged the "worst cover-up ever".Britain to stop suspects in Khashoggi death entering UKTrump says Saudi prince 'running things,' could be behind Khashoggi death: WSJ"It is a disgrace that reaches all the way to Crown Prince (Mohammed bin) Salman. At least five members of the execution team are (Mohammed bin) Salman's right hands and are people that wouldn't act without his knowledge," İlnur Çevik, an adviser to President Erdogan, wrote in a column in the Yeni Birlik newspaper."Even if U.S. President Trump saves (Mohammed bin) Salman, in the eyes of the world he is a questionable person with Khashoggi's blood on his hands," Çevik wrote.Iran: Riyadh would not have murdered Khashoggi without US protectionTurkey won't let Khashoggi killers escape justice: ErdoğanÇevik is one of many Erdoğan advisers and not a prominent one. It was not immediately clear whether the views of the column reflected those of Erdogan, who in speeches on Tuesday and Wednesday highlighted the need for all of those responsible - "from those who ordered it to those who carried it out" - to face justice.Riyadh has detained 18 people and dismissed five senior government officials as part of an investigation into Khashoggi's death. One of those fired includes Saud al-Qahtani, a top aide to the crown prince.
Saudi prince has 'blood on his hands' over Khashoggi: Erdoğan adviser
Britain will prevent all suspects in the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi from entering the country, Prime Minister Theresa May said, adding she would speak to Saudi Arabia's King Salman later on Wednesday."There does remain an urgent need to establish exactly what has happened in relation to this ... I myself expect to speak to King Salman later today," May told parliament."The Home Secretary is taking action against all suspects to prevent them entering the UK, and if these individuals currently have visas, those visas will be revoked today."Video: Britain to stop suspects in Khashoggi death entering UKUS to pull visas of Saudis involved in Khashoggi death
Britain to stop suspects in Khashoggi death entering UK
U.S. President Donald Trump, in his strongest remarks so far, said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bears ultimate responsibility as de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia for the operation that led to the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, indicating that the prince is "running things over there" in Riyadh.Speaking to the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, Trump said he wanted to believe the prince's claim that lower level officials were to blame for the Oct. 2 killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, but suggested responsibility lay higher up.Asked about Prince Mohammed’s possible involvement, Trump said: "Well, the prince is running things over there more so at this stage. He's running things and so if anybody were going to be, it would be him."Trump said he was convinced King Salman had no advance knowledge of the incident, according to the Journal.Saudi officials refuse to allow Turkish police to search well in consulateEarlier on Tuesday, the president told reporters at the White House that Saudi authorities had staged the "worst cover-up ever" over the incident, and that they had handled the matter badly.The brutal death of Khashoggi, a U.S. resident and Washington Post columnist critical of the crown prince, has sparked global outrage and threatened relations between Riyadh and Washington as well as other Western nations.In his interview with the Journal, Trump said he had asked the prince multiple times about the matter.France says will take no 'hasty decision' on links with Saudi Arabia"My first question to him was, 'Did you know anything about it in terms of the initial planning?'" Trump told the Journal, adding that the prince told him that he did not.The president said he asked the prince "'Where did it start?' And he said it started at lower levels."Asked if he believed the denials, Trump told the newspaper: "I want to believe them. I really want to believe them," he said.The United States also on Tuesday vowed to revoke the visas of some of those believed to be behind the attack.Turkey, which is investigating the killing, has dismissed Saudi efforts to blame rogue operatives and has promised to hold those behind Khashoggi's death responsible.Iran: Riyadh would not have murdered Khashoggi without US protectionEurope’s interest is to clear Khashoggi case: TuskTurkey won't let Khashoggi killers escape justice: ErdoğanKhashoggi body double used ‘to aid cover-up’ of killing: AP
Trump says Saudi prince 'running things,' could be behind Khashoggi death: WSJ
Turkish police, who were denied permission to search a well in the garden of the Saudi consul general's residence in Istanbul as part of the investigation into the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi earlier on Wednesday, were allowed to conduct the search later in the day.Authorities have previously carried out inspections at the consulate and consul general's residence in Istanbul as part of the investigation.Khashoggi, a columnist for the Washington Post, was last seen on Oct. 2 when he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.France says will take no 'hasty decision' on links with Saudi ArabiaOn Sunday, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir admitted that Khashoggi had been killed inside the consulate, but insisted that Mohamed bin Salman -- Saudi Arabia’s high-profile crown prince -- had been unaware of the plot to murder the journalist.Al-Jubeir has also posited the notion that the killing was carried out by “rogue” elements of the Saudi security apparatus.On Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan rejected official Saudi narratives of Khashoggi’s demise, claiming to have "strong evidence" that the murder was planned and executed by the Saudi authorities.Iran: Riyadh would not have murdered Khashoggi without US protectionEurope’s interest is to clear Khashoggi case: TuskTurkey won't let Khashoggi killers escape justice: ErdoğanKhashoggi body double used ‘to aid cover-up’ of killing: AP
Turkish police granted permission to search wellin consul's residence