Turkish police focus on 7 suspects in Khashoggi case: Report

ISTANBUL

One of the two planes that transported 15 Saudis was searched by Turkish authorities before leaving Turkey for Dubai. It was not immediately clear whether the second plane, pictured here, which left Istanbul for Egypt, was also searched.

Turkey’s criminal investigation into the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi is focusing on seven suspects who were filmed near the Gulf country’s consulate in Istanbul, according to local media reports. 

Turkish police were limited to footage from two street cameras that monitor the street outside the consulate after Saudi officials claimed that security cameras inside the consulate were not working at the time of last week’s incident.

Private broadcaster NTV reported on Oct. 9 that all suspects were seen entering the consulate half an hour before Khashoggi and leaving it after almost three hours.

The suspects reportedly left the area with two cars whose license plates could be read by the police.

Earlier reports said Turkish police were focusing on 15 Saudi citizens who came to Turkey on two airplanes on the day of the incident.

Demirören News Agency reported on Oct. 9 that one of the planes was searched by Turkish authorities before leaving Turkey for Dubai.

It was not immediately clear whether the second plane, which left Istanbul for Egypt, was also searched.

Both planes’ final destination was the Saudi capital of Riyadh.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia on Oct. 9 invited Turkish experts and relevant officials to visit its Istanbul consulate.

According to diplomatic sources, a diplomatic note was sent to the Turkish Foreign Ministry inviting Turkish officials to visit the consulate.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia conveys its regards to the brotherly Republic of Turkey,” the note said.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia invites Turkish experts and relevant officials to visit the Istanbul Consulate in line with the cooperation principle with the government of Republic of Turkey and due to the importance the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia lays on finding the truth about Saudi Arabian citizen son of Hamza Jamal Ahmad Khashoggi’s incident of disappearance,” it added.

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hami Aksoy said earlier Oct. 9 that a “search will be conducted in the [consulate] building as part of the investigation.”