Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
While the mystery behind the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi remains unsolved, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman appears ready to scapegoat some of his closest associates for the crime after the kingdom admitted that the killing was carried out at its consulate in Istanbul.
Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, had gone missing since entering the Saudi consulate on Oct. 2.
After days of denying knowledge of his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia last week claimed that Khashoggi died during a “brawl” in the consulate.
King Salman bin Abdulaziz sacked the deputy head of the country’s intelligence agency and a top aide and ordered the arrest of 18 suspects over the case.
The image of Crown Prince bin Salman, who has made considerable efforts to improve the country’s image on the international stage, has been harmed more than he had expected by Khashoggi’s murder.
Turkey is taking all the necessary steps to clear up the case of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Thursday, adding that Ankara had shared information about the killing with the relevant parties.“Everyone connected to the murder of Khashoggi needs to be investigated and tried in Turkey,” Çavuşoğlu said during a news conference with his Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki.Ankara has no intention of taking the case to an international court, but it will share information with the court if it launches an investigation, said Çavuşoğlu, noting that Turkey was cooperating with those who sought to work together, including Saudi Arabia.Khashoggi affair ‘won’t drive wedge’ between Saudi, TurkeyCIA director hears Khashoggi murder tape: ReportKhashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, was last seen on Oct. 2 when he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.After days of denying any knowledge of his whereabouts, Saudi officials last week admitted that Khashoggi was killed in a "brawl" at the consulate.Turkey-Palestine tiesPalestine and Jerusalem are Turkey's "red line," Çavuşoğlu said.Ankara continues to be in solidarity with brotherly Palestine, he added."Even if everyone abandons the Palestinian cause, we will not," Çavuşoğlu said.Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki in his turn said, “'We can confront all threats with Turkey's support.”Israel detains Christian monk, beats others in E. J'lemIsrael resumes fuel shipments to Gaza
All involved in Khashoggi murder must be tried in Turkey: FM
Bin Salman began sacking some of those closest to him in a bid to avoid the crisis, which has cast a shadow over his ambitions.
Anadolu Agency correspondents have researched four people known for their closeness to bin Salman who were sacked from their posts when Saudi Arabia admitted the killing was carried out in their Istanbul consulate.
Saud al-Qahtani, a top aide to the crown prince, deputy intelligence chief Ahmad Asiri, Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb, a royal guard, and the Interior Ministry’s head of forensic medicine Salah Mohammed al-Tubaiqi have all gained notoriety as the “prince’s men” in the Khashoggi killing.
The EU expects a “full, transparent investigation” of the killing of a Saudi journalist, said the bloc's foreign policy chief on Wednesday.At a joint press conference with the presidents of Colombia and the European Commission, Frederica Mogherini said Saudi Arabia had so far failed to “shed enough light” on the killing of Jamal Khashoggi.A columnist for The Washington Post, Khashoggi was last seen on Oct. 2 when he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.After days of denying any knowledge of his whereabouts, Saudi officials last week admitted that Khashoggi had died in a "brawl" at the consulate.“We expect accountability, which is not revenge. It's not a scapegoating exercise,” Mogherini added.Since admitting to the journalist’s death, Saudi King Salman has sacked the deputy head of the Saudi intelligence agency, along with a top aide, while also ordering the arrest of 18 suspects in the case.Amid a global outcry, world leaders have called on the Saudi government to provide more concrete answers on his death.US wants 'perfect clarity' on Khashoggi case: PompeoErdoğan, Prince Salman discuss steps needed to elucidate Khashoggi killingSaudi teams in consulate vehicles scouted out Istanbul forest before killing Khashoggi
EU pushes 'full, transparent' Khashoggi probe
Leader of ‘electronic flies’
Al-Qahtani is known as the leader of the "electronic flies" that carry out smear campaigns on social media targeting those against the new administration under bin Salman’s leadership and the people and institutions who have a potential to do so.
Born in 1978 in the capital Riyadh, he studied at King Saud University’s Faculty of Law and later did his Masters at the Naif Arab University for Security Sciences.
Working at the rank of minister at the Royal Court, he earlier served as a Royal Court media adviser and was appointed as an adviser to the office of the crown prince during King Abdullah’s rule.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman said Wednesday that the ongoing furor over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi would not “drive a wedge” between his country and Turkey.“I want to send them a message: They will not be able to do that [i.e., harm Saudi-Turkish relations] as long as there is a king called King Salman bin Abdulaziz and a crown prince called Mohamed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia and a president in Turkey named [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan,” the crown prince declared.Bin Salman's remarks, which he made on the second day of a high-profile investment conference now underway in Riyadh, came one day after Erdogan revealed details of Khashoggi’s Oct. 2 murder in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.UK PM: Saudi account of Khashoggi murder ‘not credible’The crown prince went on to assert that both countries were cooperating with one another with a view to ascertaining the truth behind the journalist’s death.The Turkish and Saudi governments, he added, were both keen to see those responsible for the crime held to account.A columnist for The Washington Post, Khashoggi went missing after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.CIA director hears Khashoggi murder tape: ReportAfter several days of denying any knowledge of his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia last week appeared to admit that Khashoggi had died inside the consulate.Since then, King Salman has sacked his deputy intelligence chief -- and a top aide -- while ordering the arrest of 18 people suspected of involvement in Khashoggi’s murder.
Khashoggi affair ‘won’t drive wedge’ between Saudi, Turkey
Sources who have close ties to the royal family call al-Qahtani the “privy secretary” of bin Salman.
According to the sources, he also speaks on behalf of the crown prince on many occasions and gives instructions to some security forces.
In an interview with a U.S. magazine, Khashoggi said al-Qahtani was authorized in the communication unit of the Kingdom during King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz’s time and added that he was close to al-Qahtani and knew him well.
Stating that he became an important person due to his post, Khashoggi added that he controlled the public relations of the unit and Saudi media organs.
Saudi Arabia’s explanation for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi “lacks credibility,” British Prime Minister Theresa May told King Salman Wednesday, according to a government statement.May spoke with the Saudi king over the phone and reiterated the UK’s “grave concern” about the journalist’s killing in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.“There remains an urgent need to establish exactly what happened,” May told King Salman, urging Saudi Arabia to cooperate with the Turkish investigation and to be transparent about the results.“It is important that the full facts are established,” she said, according to the statement.CIA director hears Khashoggi murder tape: ReportAfter days of denying knowledge of his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia last week claimed that Khashoggi died during a brawl inside the consulate.Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz sacked the deputy of the country’s intelligence service and a top aide and ordered the arrest of 18 suspects over the case.“The Prime Minister also reiterated that all individuals bearing responsibility for the killing of Mr. Khashoggi must be properly held to account,” the statement said.May also said British Home Secretary Sajid Javid is taking action against all suspects in the killing to prevent them from entering the UK.“If these individuals have visas, they are being revoked,” she said.Earlier Wednesday, May said the UK condemns Khashoggi’s killing “in the strongest possible terms” in response to questions from lawmakers at the House of Commons.Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, had gone missing since entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.On the day of his disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.A joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case on Thursday after searching the residence of the Saudi consul general as well as the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
UK PM: Saudi account of Khashoggi murder ‘not credible’
In one of his columns in The Washington Post, Khashoggi also said al-Qahtani had a list of Saudi critics and called on Saudi citizens to contribute names to this list.
In reply to the “black list” mentioned by Khashoggi, al-Qahtani wrote last year on Twitter: “Do you think I make decisions without guidance? I am an employee and a faithful executor of the orders of my lord the king and my lord the faithful crown prince.”
On the other hand, it is claimed that al-Qahtani established the "electronic flies" social media team to follow daily posts and movements and prepare reports on them.
Following the latest developments, al-Qahtani was removed from his post. Even though he was removed from his official duties, it is said that he continues to be active with the electronic team.
CIA Director Gina Haspel listened to an audio tape of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s interrogation and murder during a visit to Turkey, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.“Haspel, who departed for a secret trip to Turkey on Monday, heard the audio during her visit, according to people familiar with her meetings,” said the U.S. daily.CIA Director on way to Turkey for Khashoggi case“A person familiar with the audio said it was ‘compelling’ and could put more pressure on the United States to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for the death of Khashoggi,” the newspaper reported.Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, was last seen on Oct. 2 when he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.After days of denying any knowledge of his whereabouts, Saudi officials last week admitted that Khashoggi was killed in a "brawl" at the consulate.Trump says Saudi prince 'running things,' could be behind Khashoggi death: WSJIran: Riyadh would not have murdered Khashoggi without US protection
CIA director hears Khashoggi murder tape: Report
Star of Yemen op
The world has known Maj. Gen. Ahmed Al-Assiri as spokesman of the Arab coalition formed under the leadership of Saudi Arabia to conduct military operations against Yemen.
Born in Saudi Arabia in 1959, Al-Assiri graduated from a military school in France and obtained his Master’s degree in Saudi Arabia in an armed forces commandership faculty.
He studied History at the world-famous Sorbonne University in Paris and national defense in France.
He served as a French interpreter during the First Gulf War, known as 'Operation Desert Storm', which began in August 1990.
Al-Assiri became an advisor to the Saudi Defense Minister in 2014 and was appointed as spokesman of the Saudi-led Arab coalition established to conduct military operations against Yemen in 2015.
Al-Assiri also has shown Saudi Arabia's defense 'skills' about civilian casualties during Saudi airstrikes in Yemen.
He speaks French and English very well and frequently attends meetings of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman when foreign guests come to Saudi Arabia.
Saudi media reports that he is also a skilled pilot.
The BBC said Al-Assiri was 'suspiciously' sacked over the affair by the Saudi crown prince.
Murder mastermind
Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb, a frequent companion of Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and a colonel in Saudi intelligence, is the mastermind of Khashoggi’s murder, according to the London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper.
Mutreb was leading the Saudi team that came to Istanbul in the early hours of Oct. 2.
He was born in 1971.
Arab media said Mutreb served as a security attaché at the Saudi consulate in London in 2007 and met Khashoggi in the UK capital.
He was assigned to a brigade in the Saudi Royal Guard to protect senior figures and became a frequent companion of the crown prince.
Mutreb travelled with bin Salman to the U.S. in March and was alongside him during trips to Spain and France.
A BBC story said Mutreb was trained by a European hacker group in hacking and cyber spying in 2011 in Riyadh.
Arab media reported that he was the leader of the 'hit team' that came to Istanbul in private jets that had been rented in his name.
Mutreb was thought to have received electronic information about Khashoggi and interrogated the Saudi journalist.
Arab media added that Mutreb called Saudi Arabia 19 times - including four phone calls to the office of bin Salman's secretary - on the day of Khashoggi’s murder.
Forensics expert
Known as Crown Prince bin Salman’s righthand man, Salah Muhammad al-Tubaiqi is thought to be one of the major figures acting on the crown prince’s behalf inside and outside the country, reported The New Arab, a London- based daily.
Several reports by Arab and international media said that Tubaiqi, as head of the forensic medicine department in the Saudi Interior Ministry, had arrived in Istanbul on the day of Khashoggi’s disappearance to destroy evidence relating to the case as part of a 15-person team.
Born in 1971 in southeastern Saudi Arabia, Tubaiqi left the country in 2004 to study forensic medicine at Glasgow University in the UK.
Upon returning, he worked as a pathologist in Riyadh and Dammam, where he conducted several studies on murder cases. He also worked for a short time as a visiting forensic medicine specialist at Australia’s Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine.
Tubaiqi, who has held various senior positions in forensic medicine in Saudi Arabia, is known as one of the country’s foremost specialists in this field as well as in medical ethics.