Khashoggi's body ‘likely burned in large oven at Saudi home’

ISTANBUL

The body of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was likely burned in a large oven at the Saudi consulate general's residence in Istanbul, according to an Al Jazeera investigation.

New details of the writer's murder by a Saudi assassination team were reported in a documentary by Al Jazeera Arabic that aired on March 4.

“Turkish authorities monitored the burning of the outdoor furnace from outside the premises as bags believed to be containing Khashoggi's body parts were transferred to the Saudi consul's home after he was killed inside the consulate a few hundred metres away,” the broadcaster reported.

Al Jazeera interviewed a worker who constructed the furnace who stated it was built according to specifications from the Saudi consul. It had to be deep and withstand temperatures above 1,000 degrees Celsius- hot enough to melt metal.

Large quantities of barbeque meat were grilled in the oven after the killing in order to cover up the cremation of the Saudi writer's body, Turkish authorities reported.

The burning of Khashoggi's body took place over a period of three days, Turkish officials said according to the broadcaster.

Turkish investigators also found traces of Khashoggi's blood on the walls of the Saudi consul's office after removing paint that the assassination team applied after killing the Washington Post columnist on Oct. 2.