Turkey launches probe into disappearance of Saudi journalist

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The Turkish authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into the disappearance of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi after he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

"There is an ongoing investigation on this foreign individual by the police and affiliate organizations," an anonymous Turkish source told Xinhua News Agency.

Jamal Khashoggi, a columnist at The Washington Post and a Saudi dissident critic of the country's crown prince entered the consulate last Tuesday then disappeared.

The Turkish police said that the missing journalist hasn't left the Saudi consulate. But Saudi officials insist that Khashoggi left the building.

Missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi's Turkish fiancee Hatice Cengiz (L) and her friends wait in front of the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, on October 3, 2018. /VCG Photo

It is said that Turkish police believe Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate, according to Reuters citing two Turkish officials. But sources did not explain how they believed the killing was carried out.

A saudi source said the accusations were baseless, Reuters reported.

Khashoggi, the 59-year-old journalist has been living in self-imposed exile in the United States since he fled the kingdom in September 2017.

He visited the consulate to get official documents for his re-marriage. And he had reportedly expressed concerns about his safety.

Protesters hold pictures of missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi, October 5, 2018. /VCG Photo

Khashoggi's fiancee Hatice Cengiz said he didn't inform her of any threat, "I waited outside the (Saudi) consulate for three hours but he didn't come back, at least I didn't see him coming back," Cengiz told CNNTurk news channel.

Turkish Foreign Ministry and the police are closely monitoring the case, Turkey's presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said, adding that Ankara was in touch with Saudi officials.

Saudi Arabia's consul-generla told Reuters earlier on Saturday that his country was helping search for Khashoggi.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also welcomed Turkey to search the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

In an interview published on Friday, the Prince said they really want to know what happened and "have nothing to hide".

Turkish and foreign journalists held demonstrations outside the consulate, demanding Saudi authorities shed light on Khashoggi's disappearance for fear of his safety.

(With input from agencies)

(Cover photo: Protesters hold pictures of missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a demonstration in front of the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul on October 5, 2018. )

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