Turkey says Khashoggi murder ‘planned in savage manner’

In this photo, taken Feb. 1, 2015, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi speaks during a press conference in Manama, Bahrain. (Photo by HASAN JAMALI / AP)

Ankara, Turkey – The murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside Riyadh’s Istanbul consulate was planned in a “savage manner,” Turkey’s ruling party spokesman said Monday.

“This was planned in an extremely savage manner, and we are faced with a situation where there has been a lot of effort to whitewash this,” Justice and Development Party (AKP) spokesman Omer Celik told reporters in Ankara.

Riyadh said Saturday that Khashoggi died during a “brawl” inside the consulate after a visit on October 2 to get documents. /kga