Turkish police forensic officer exits the Saudi Arabia’s Consulate in Istanbul, Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. Turkey and Saudi Arabia conducted a joint “inspection” on Monday of the consulate, where Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi went missing nearly two weeks ago, Turkish authorities said. (Photo by EMRAH GUREL / AP)
ISTANBUL – A senior Turkish official said surveillance footage showing a man wearing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s clothes leaving the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul indicates that his death was a pre-planned killing and that efforts were made to cover it up.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Omer Celik, spokesman for Turkey’s ruling party, denied as “immoral” suggestions that Turkey was delaying announcing the findings of its investigation into Khashoggi’s death because it was engaged in an alleged “bargaining” process with Saudi Arabia.
“We are faced with a situation in which it was a brutally planned (killing) and efforts were made to cover it up,” Celik said.
The official said Turkey was leading a careful investigation to ensure that “nobody is falsely accused” and that the incident is not covered up.
“God willing the results will be brought into the open, those responsible will be punished and no one will dare think of carrying out such a thing again.”
Saudi authorities said last weekend that Khashoggi was killed in a “fistfight” with Saudi officials at the consulate on October 2, after initially insisting they knew nothing of his whereabouts. /kga