Gory details emerge of Saudi journalist Khashoggi's death

World
Europe

Turkish investigators searched the Saudi consul's residence in Istanbul into the early hours of Thursday morning, as reports surfaced detailing how missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi met a grisly death, and US President Donald Trump fended off criticism he was covering for Riyadh's actions.

Here are the latest updates on the story.

Was Khashoggi tortured and killed?

Turkish daily Yeni Safak on Wednesday said it had access to audio recordings which confirmed Khashoggi was tortured and decapitated at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

The journalist, a Washington Post contributor and critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was last seen entering the consulate on October 2 and hasn't been heard from since, quickly prompting claims that he was murdered on the premises. Riyadh has steadfastly denied the accusations.

A combo of frame grabs allegedly showing members of a Saudi team suspected of being involved in Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance, at Istanbul's Ataturk airport, October 2, 2018. /VCG Photo

Earlier media reports had already mentioned the existence of recordings of Khashoggi's death and torture.

Yeni Safak went into more gory detail however, claiming the journalist had his fingers cut off while being tortured and was later decapitated.

The newspaper also said that Saudi Arabia's consul to Istanbul Mohammed al-Otaibi – who left Turkey to return to Riyadh on Tuesday – could be heard on the recordings saying: "Do this outside. You are going to get me in trouble."

On another recording, an unidentified person told Otaibi: "If you want to live when you come to Saudi Arabia, be quiet!"

What have investigators found at the consulate?

After repeated delays, Turkish investigators were finally allowed into the Saudi consul's residence on Wednesday afternoon to conduct a search. A dozen police officers, prosecutors and forensic experts combed the property, including the garden and the roof, and a drone was also used to examine the scene from above.

Turkish police arrive at the Saudi Arabian consulate general in Istanbul, Turkey, October 17, 2018. /VCG Photo

The probe lasted around nine hours, after which the investigators conducted a second search of the nearby consulate.

During a first search on Monday, police found items that had been painted over to conceal evidence, according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. They had also taken soil and DNA samples.

Why has the US response been muted?

As the probe proceeded in Turkey, the Trump administration faced increasing criticism for its mild response in the Khashoggi case.

Speaking to Fox Business on Wednesday, Trump explained that the US needed Saudi Arabia, a traditional ally, in the fight against terrorism.

He later told reporters however: "I'm not giving cover at all (to Saudi Arabia)."

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, October 16, 2018. /VCG Photo

Trump said he was expecting a "full report" from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who this week traveled to Saudi Arabia and Turkey with instructions to find out what happened to Khashoggi, and that this should help clarify the journalist's fate.

"We will probably know that by the end of the week," Trump said.

After meeting with Saudi leaders on Tuesday, Pompeo said he had received pledges that Riyadh would conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into Khashoggi's disappearance.

Asked whether Khashoggi was dead however, he said he did not want "to talk about any of the facts. They didn't want to either."

Where's the evidence?

Trump said Wednesday he had asked Turkey to share any video or audio recordings about Khashoggi's possible killing.

Questions have swirled over whether Prince Mohammed – often depicted as the face of reform in conservative Saudi Arabia – was involved in the journalist's disappearance.

Turkish crime scene investigators leave after inspecting the Saudi consul general's official residence in Istanbul, Turkey, October 18, 2018. /VCG Photo

Turkish sources have said Riyadh sent a 15-man special team to Istanbul to take care of the journalist. According to The New York Times, at least four of the men were part of Prince Mohammed's security team, and one was a forensic expert.

The case has cast a pall over a major investment conference in Riyadh next week. French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire became the latest name to pull out of the Future Investment Initiative on Thursday, joining the CEOs of Societe Generale, HSBC, Credit Suisse, JP Morgan and Uber, as well as news organizations like CNN, CNBC and Bloomberg.

US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said he would "revisit" his decision to attend on Thursday.

What are Khashoggi's last words?

Amid increasing evidence that Khashoggi was no longer alive, the Washington Post published his final column on Wednesday, in which he called for more press freedom in the Arab world.

Screenshot of The Washington Post. /CGTN

"We need to provide a platform for Arab voices," Khashoggi wrote, calling for "the creation of an independent international forum, isolated from the influence of nationalist governments spreading hate through propaganda."

The newspaper's Global Opinions editor Karen Attiah said they had chosen not to publish the piece sooner as they hoped Khashoggi would soon return.

"Now I have to accept: That is not going to happen. This is the last piece of his I will edit for The Post," she wrote.

(With input from agencies)

(Top picture: Turkish police arrive at the Saudi Arabian consulate general residence in Istanbul, Turkey, October 17, 2018. /VCG Photo)