Demonstration for missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Washington
Turkey's investigation into the disappearance of prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has revealed recordings made on his Apple Watch purportedly indicating he was tortured and killed.
The report emerged after a delegation from Saudi Arabia arrived in Turkey for a joint investigation into his disappearance.
The moments when Khashoggi was interrogated, tortured and murdered were recorded in the Apple Watch's memory, and the watch had synched with his iPhone, which his fiancee was carrying outside the consulate.
Two senior Turkish officials previously told Reuters that Khashoggi had been wearing a black Apple watch when he entered the consulate and that it was connected to a mobile phone he left outside.
Two congressmen are seeking to rally lawmakers Friday to call on the Donald Trump administration to release intelligence that could indicate it had foreknowledge about a plot to abduct or kill a journalist before he went missing.Representatives Ro Khanna of California and Mark Pocan of Wisconsin circulated a letter to members of congress that calls for Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats "to release information regarding the U.S. intelligence community’s advance knowledge of Saudi Arabia’s plot to capture journalist and American resident Jamal Khashoggi."Khashoggi was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul Oct. 2. He has not been seen since entering the diplomatic building as fears have grown that he has been killed by Riyadh.Khanna and Pocan are planning to send the letter to Coats next week.The Washington Post, which Khashoggi was a columnist for, reported earlier this week the U.S. intercepted the communications of Saudi officials that allegedly indicated Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman ordered an operation to detain Khashoggi.The letter the Democratic congressmen are seeking to have their fellow representatives sign on to cites an intelligence community directive which specifies the community is "to warn both U.S. and non-U.S. persons of threats of serious bodily injury, kidnapping, and intentional killing.""Given your office oversees the U.S. intelligence community’s duty-to-warn process, we seek urgent answers as to whether Mr. Khashoggi was in fact contacted about the credible threat to his life and liberty posed by the Saudi plot to capture him," the congressmen plan to write to Coats."Considering the profound ramifications of this potential crime, U.S. foreknowledge of Saudi plans to detain Mr. Khashoggi, and whether the U.S. intelligence community carried out its duty to warn, we intend to use the full force of Congressional oversight and investigatory powers to obtain these answers should they not be forthcoming," they will add.The State Department earlier this week denied the U.S. had any "advance knowledge" of a plot to abduct Khashoggi, but when asked if had a duty to warn Khashoggi if it did, spokesman Robert Palladino declined to answer a "hypothetical question.”On the same day Khashoggi arrived at the consulate, 15 Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while Khashoggi was also inside, police sources said. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.Saudi authorities have yet to give a clear explanation of Khashoggi’s fate, while several countries -- particularly Turkey, the U.S. and the UK -- have expressed their desire that the matter should be elucidated as soon as possible.Riyadh welcomes Turkey’s response to Khashoggi probeIMF chief attending Saudi conference, watching for news of journalistUS arms makers express concern to Trump admin about Saudi deals
US congressmen seek support for Khashoggi intel release
However, it was not clear whether data from Khashoggi’s watch could have been transmitted to his phone outside, or how investigators could have retrieved it without obtaining the watch themselves.
According to reliable sources in a special intelligence department, Khashoggi was believed to have turned on the recording feature on the phone before entering the consulate.
Saudi intelligence agents had realised after he died that the phone was recording and they used his finger print to unlock it, deleting some files, but not all of them. The recordings were subsequently found on his phone, it said.
On Thursday, Turkey said it and Saudi Arabia had agreed to form a joint working group - at Riyadh's initiative - to investigate the case. A Saudi source said a senior royal, Prince Khaled al-Faisal, had visited Turkey that day.
Saudi Arabia on Friday welcomed Turkey’s positive response to its request to form a joint committee to probe the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. “Saudi Arabia commends the positive response from our brother country Turkey to its request to form a joint expert team to bring the Jamal Khashoggi case to light,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry said on its official Twitter account. “We firmly believe in the capability of the joint investigation team to complete the mission through cooperation.”The statement emphasized that Saudi Arabia gives great importance to the lives and security of its citizens no matter where they live.“Within the framework of close cooperation between Turkey and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and upon the suggestion of the Kingdom, a joint working team between Turkey and Saudi Arabia will be formed to investigate the case of Jamal in all its aspects," Turkish presidential aide Ibrahim Kalin said Thursday.Khashoggi was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul Oct. 2.On the same day that he arrived at the diplomatic building, 15 Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while Khashoggi was also inside, police sources said. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.Saudi authorities have yet to give a clear explanation of Khashoggi’s fate, while several countries -- particularly Turkey, the U.S. and the UK -- have expressed their desire that the matter should be elucidated as soon as possible.
Riyadh welcomes Turkey’s response to Khashoggi probe
Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2 to get documents for his forthcoming marriage. Saudi officials say he left shortly afterwards but Turkish officials and his fiancee, who was waiting outside, said he never came out.
Turkish sources have told Reuters the initial assessment of the police was that Khashoggi, an outspoken critic of the Saudi government, had been deliberately killed inside the consulate. Riyadh has dismissed the claims.
SPA said on Friday that Saudi Arabia's interior minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, condemned the "lies and baseless allegations" against the kingdom, although he praised the joint investigation with Turkey.
The Saudi delegation, which arrived in Turkey on Thursday, is meeting a Turkish prosecutor investigating the case as well as representatives from the Justice Ministry, Interior Ministry, police and the national intelligence agency, one source said.
On Tuesday, the Turkish foreign ministry said the Saudi consulate in Istanbul would be searched as part of the investigation.
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde said on Saturday she has not canceled her plans to attend an elite Saudi investment conference later this month, but will be "very attentive" to any new information about the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi."At this point in time, my intention is to not change my plan and to be very attentive to the information that is coming up in the next few days," she told a news conference when asked whether she would attend the conference after several media companies and business leaders pulled out."Horrifying things have been reported, and I am horrified," Lagarde said of media reports about Khashoggi's disappearance. "But I have to conduct the business of the IMF in all corners of the world and with many governments." France's Macron says Khashoggi affair worrying, will speak with Turks, SaudisSaudi Consulate in Istanbul bustles with activityIn final tweets, Khashoggi alluded to Palestine, SyriaTurkish security forces to dig up Istanbul sites in search of Khashoggi remainsSaudi delegation arrives in Ankara for Khashoggi probe
IMF chief attending Saudi conference, watching for news of journalist
U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he will call Saudi Arabia’s King Salman to discuss the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi."We’re going to find out what happened with respect to the terrible situation in Turkey having to do with Saudi Arabia and the reporter," said Trump, speaking to the press in Ohio ahead of a campaign rally.He said he would be calling King Salman “at some point," without elaborating.Khashoggi was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, and fears have grown that he has been killed by Riyadh.The Washington Post, which Khashoggi was a columnist for, reported earlier this week that the U.S. intercepted the communications of Saudi officials which allegedly indicated that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman ordered an operation to detain Khashoggi.Trump said that many countries were "looking very hard and fast" at what happened. "A lot of people are looking to find out because it is potentially a really, really terrible situation."On the same day Khashoggi arrived at the consulate, 15 Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while Khashoggi was inside, police sources said. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.Saudi authorities have yet to give a clear explanation of Khashoggi’s fate, while several countries -- particularly Turkey, the U.S. and the UK -- have expressed their desire that the matter should be elucidated as soon as possible.France's Macron says Khashoggi affair worrying, will speak with Turks, SaudisCNBC pulls out of Saudi conference over KhashoggiFrance raises pressure on Saudi over Khashoggi disappearance
Trump to call Saudi king to discuss missing journalist