Turkish police search Saudi consulate over alleged Khashoggi killing

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Turkish investigators conducted an extensive overnight search at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul late Monday and into Tuesday, as reports emerged that Riyadh may be close to admitting that missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was on his way to Saudi Arabia to meet with leaders face to face, and US President Donald Trump spoke to Saudi King Salman on the phone, saying those responsible may be "rogue killers."

Here are the latest updates on the story.

What happened at the consulate?

Turkish investigators finally gained access late Monday to the consulate in Istanbul, which Khashoggi, a prominent critic, was seen entering on October 2. He has not been seen or heard from since.

A Turkish forensic police officer is seen inside the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, October 15, 2018. /VCG Photo

Turkish authorities say he was murdered there, a claim the Saudi side has denied.

Riyadh initially agreed last week to allow investigators into the building – which is considered Saudi territory – but later denied access.

On Monday evening, six cars drew up to the consulate, which had been blocked off by Turkish authorities, AFP news agency reported.

Police in uniform and officials carrying printers and files were seen entering the building, and a Turkish forensic expert was later spotted on the roof.

The search lasted around nine hours, with investigators only leaving the building in the early hours of Tuesday.

Reports said they took samples with them, including soil from the consulate garden

A police vehicle arrives at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, October 15, 2018. /VCG Photo

A Turkish official, quoted by Reuters, noted earlier however that: "It has been 13 days since the event, so surely proving some of the evidence might be difficult."

Is Khashoggi dead?

The search came amid US media reports that Riyadh was preparing to acknowledge that Khashoggi died during an interrogation gone wrong and that there were also plans to abduct him.

CNN cited two sources saying a Saudi report was in the works. One source said it would reveal that the action against Khashoggi had not been sanctioned and that those behind it would be held accountable.

The New York Times quoted another source saying the interrogation and kidnapping had been approved by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Leaked Turkish claims last week alleged Khashoggi was tortured at the consulate and his body dismembered and removed from the building.

Protesters hold pictures of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a protest outside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, October 9, 2018. /VCG Photo

A Saudi official quoted by Reuters said King Salman has now ordered an internal investigation into the journalist's disappearance.

What is the US position?

Trump told reporters on Monday that the king strongly denied Riyadh's involvement in Khashoggi's disappearance during a phone conversation.

"The king firmly denied any knowledge of it," the US president said, adding: "It sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers. Who knows?"

Trump said he had dispatched Pompeo to Saudi Arabia with "instructions to find out what happened."

Pompeo was then expected to travel to Turkey on Wednesday and meet with Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, according to Turkish news agency Anadolu.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrives at a news conference outside the White House in Washington, DC, October 9, 2018. /VCG Photo

Over the weekend, Trump said there would be "severe punishment" if it was proven Saudi authorities were involved in the killing of the journalist.

At the same time, he rejected suggestions that the US suspend arms deals and military support to Saudi Arabia, a traditional US ally, arguing "we'd be punishing ourselves if we did that."

Is 'Davos in the Desert' at risk?

Pressure has been piling on Riyadh over Khashoggi's fate.

A number of European countries have called for a thorough investigation into what happened.

People attend the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh, October 24, 2017. /VCG Photo

Meanwhile, the number of high-profile names pulling out of a major investment conference next week in Riyadh, known as "Davos in the Desert," continues to grow.

Google on Monday joined the likes of JP Morgan CEO James Dimon, British billionaire Richard Branson and news organizations like CNBC, Bloomberg and the Financial Times, saying it would skip this year's meeting.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin was still due to attend but said he might reconsider if new information emerges.

Questions around Khashoggi's disappearance have also hit the riyal and sent the Saudi stock market tumbling, although it has since rebounded.

(With input from agencies)