missing Saudi journalist

Turkey ‘has recording proving murder’

Turkish officials have audio and video evidence that shows missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, reports BBC.  Khashoggi, a critic of the Saudi government, has not been seen since he entered the building on 2 October. Turkish intelligence had "documented evidence" of the murder, a source close to the investigation said. Saudi Arabia denies the allegations. It says the journalist left the building. Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance and reported death have prompted international outrage and dented business confidence in Saudi Arabia.

The latest reports suggest an assault and a struggle took place in the consulate. A Turkish security source has confirmed to BBC Arabic the existence of an audio and a video recording. What is not clear is if anyone other than Turkish officials has seen or heard them. One source is cited by the Washington Post saying men can be heard beating Khashoggi; it adds that the recordings show he was killed and dismembered.

"You can hear his voice and the voices of the men speaking Arabic," a separate source told the Post. "You can hear how he was interrogated, tortured and then murdered". Khashoggi is a contributing columnist for the newspaper.

Earlier this week leading columnist Kemal Ozturk, considered close to the Turkish government, alleged there was a

video of the moment Jamal Khashoggi was killed.

Turkish TV has already broadcast CCTV footage of the moment Khashoggi walked into the consulate for an appointment at which he was due to receive papers for his forthcoming marriage to Turkish fiancée Hatice Cengiz. Separately, a video has emerged of men described as Saudi intelligence officers entering and leaving Turkey.

A 15-strong team has been identified by Turkish media who are described as involved in Khashoggi's disappearance. The BBC has been told that one was Maher Mutreb, an intelligence colonel based in London, and another was thought to be a forensics specialist.

Turkey's official line is that Khashoggi is missing but that it knows "for sure" he has been killed.

Global business leaders suspend ties with Saudi Arabia

Meanwhile, global business leaders are reassessing their ties with Saudi Arabia, stoking pressure on the Gulf kingdom to explain what happened to a dissident writer who disappeared after visiting its consulate in Istanbul, reports AP from London.

British billionaire Richard Branson yesterday suspended business links with Saudi Arabia, and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said he might not attend a major investment conference in the country this month amid reports that Jamal Khashoggi may have been killed at the Saudi consulate in Turkey's capital.

What has reportedly happened in Turkey around the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, if proved true, would clearly change the ability of any of us in the West to do business with the Saudi government, Branson said in a statement.

Branson, founder of Virgin Group, says he will suspend his role as director in two tourism projects in Saudi Arabia while an investigation takes place. He also is putting on hold discussions about a proposed Saudi investment in space companies Virgin Galactic and Virgin Orbit.

Saudi Arabia is facing increasing international pressure to clarify what happened to Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, with U.S. President Donald Trump and British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt among those demanding answers.

Khosrowshahi is scheduled to speak at the Future Investment Initiative conference, which takes place Oct. 23-25 in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

I'm very troubled by the reports to date about Jamal Khashoggi, Khosrowshahi said. We are following the situation closely, and unless a substantially different set of facts emerges, I won't be attending the FII conference in Riyadh.

The investment conference lists dozens of expected speakers, including JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, Blackrock Chairman Larry Fink and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, the latter confirming Friday that he will go.

I am planning on going at this point, he told broadcaster CNBC. If more information comes out and changes, we could look at that.

Joe Kaeser, the president and CEO of German industrial giant Siemens AG, also still plans to attend for now.

The Financial Times, which is listed as a media partner to the event, announced it would no longer be doing so.

 

 

missing Saudi journalist

Turkey has recording proving murder

Turkish officials have audio and video evidence that shows missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, reports BBC. Khashoggi, a critic of the Saudi government, has not been seen since he entered the building on 2 October. Turkish intelligence had documented evidence of the murder, a source close to the investigation said. Saudi Arabia denies the allegations. It says the journalist left the building. Jamal Khashoggis disappearance and reported death have prompted international outrage and dented business confidence in Saudi Arabia. The latest reports suggest an assault and a struggle took place in the consulate. A Turkish security source has confirmed to BBC Arabic the existence of an audio and a video recording. What is not clear is if anyone other than Turkish officials has seen or heard them. One source is cited by the Washington Post saying men can be heard beating Khashoggi; it adds that the recordings show he was killed and dismembered. You can hear his voice and the voices of the men speaking Arabic, a separate source told the Post. You can hear how he was interrogated, tortured and then murdered. Khashoggi is a contributing columnist for the newspaper. Earlier this week leading columnist Kemal Ozturk, considered close to the Turkish government, alleged there was a video of the moment Jamal Khashoggi was killed. Turkish TV has already broadcast CCTV footage of the moment Khashoggi walked into the consulate for an appointment at which he was due to receive papers for his forthcoming marriage to Turkish fiance Hatice Cengiz. Separately, a video has emerged of men described as Saudi intelligence officers entering and leaving Turkey. A 15-strong team has been identified by Turkish media who are described as involved in Khashoggis disappearance. The BBC has been told that one was Maher Mutreb, an intelligence colonel based in London, and another was thought to be a forensics specialist. Turkeys official line is that Khashoggi is missing but that it knows for sure he has been killed. Global business leaders suspend ties with Saudi Arabia Meanwhile, global business leaders are reassessing their ties with Saudi Arabia, stoking pressure on the Gulf kingdom to explain what happened to a dissident writer who disappeared after visiting its consulate in Istanbul, reports AP from London. British billionaire Richard Branson yesterday suspended business links with Saudi Arabia, and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said he might not attend a major investment conference in the country this month amid reports that Jamal Khashoggi may have been killed at the Saudi consulate in Turkeys capital. What has reportedly happened in Turkey around the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, if proved true, would clearly change the ability of any of us in the West to do business with the Saudi government, Branson said in a statement. Branson, founder of Virgin Group, says he will suspend his role as director in two tourism projects in Saudi Arabia while an investigation takes place. He also is putting on hold discussions about a proposed Saudi investment in space companies Virgin Galactic and Virgin Orbit. Saudi Arabia is facing increasing international pressure to clarify what happened to Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, with U.S. President Donald Trump and British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt among those demanding answers. Khosrowshahi is scheduled to speak at the Future Investment Initiative conference, which takes place Oct. 23-25 in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Im very troubled by the reports to date about Jamal Khashoggi, Khosrowshahi said. We are following the situation closely, and unless a substantially different set of facts emerges, I wont be attending the FII conference in Riyadh. The investment conference lists dozens of expected speakers, including JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, Blackrock Chairman Larry Fink and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, the latter confirming Friday that he will go. I am planning on going at this point, he told broadcaster CNBC. If more information comes out and changes, we could look at that. Joe Kaeser, the president and CEO of German industrial giant Siemens AG, also still plans to attend for now. The Financial Times, which is listed as a media partner to the event, announced it would no longer be doing so.