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Istanbul police search Saudi consul’s residence in Khashoggi probe
ISTANBUL, Oct 17, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Turkish police on Wednesday began a
search at the residence of the Saudi consul to Istanbul, in the investigation
into the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the kingdom’s
consulate in the city, according to an AFP correspondent.
A team of a dozen police and prosecutors, including forensics experts in
white overalls, entered the residence of Mohammed al-Otaibi, a day after he
flew out of Istanbul for Riyadh.
Earlier in the day, a Saudi delegation had also arrived at the building to
take part in what is presented as a joint search with their Turkish
counterparts.
Turkish police had on Monday searched the consulate building itself for
over eight hours, taking away soil and DNA samples for further examination.
Khashoggi, a former regime insider who became critical of Saudi Arabia’s
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, wrote articles for titles including the
Washington Post. He has not been seen since he stepped inside the Saudi
consulate in Istanbul on October 2.
Turkish officials have said they believe he was killed there although this
has not been confirmed by Saudi Arabia.
Al-Otaibi left for Riyadh on a scheduled Saudia flight Tuesday afternoon,
with Ankara insisting he had not been expelled.
BSS/AFP/BZC/2030HRS