Erdogan gave a speech this morning explaining how the Saudis murdered Jamal Khashoggi and did so in a very premeditated way:
NY POST – Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that Saudi officials began plotting Jamal Khashoggi’s “political murder” days before his death inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul – and called on Riyadh to extradite 18 suspects to face justice in his country.
“Intelligence and security institutions have evidence showing the murder was planned…Pinning such a case on some security and intelligence members will not satisfy us or the international community,” Erdogan said in a speech to parliament in Ankara.
He said that the murder was “planned” days in advance according to a “roadmap” set up by a Saudi contingent that had been sent to Istanbul for the purpose.
The surveillance system at the consulate was deactivated on purpose, he said.
“First they (the Saudis implicated) removed the hard disc from the camera system,” Erdogan said. “This is a political murder.”
He said three operatives arrived in Istanbul the day before his killing on an apparent reconnaissance mission. The next day, a 15-man hit team came to the consulate.
“Why did these 15 people meet in Istanbul on the day of the murder? We are seeking answers to this. Who are these people receiving orders from?” Erdogan said.
He made no mention of an audio tape of Khashoggi’s suspected torture and dismemberment, the contents of which have been reportedly leaked.
The fact that Turkey isn’t releasing the audio is very suspicious to me. However they have provided other compelling evidence, such as video surveillance showing how the Saudi’s brought in a body double to pose as Khashoggi after he was murdered – even wearing his clothes.
It’s also been reported in the last half hour that the body of Khashoggi has been located:
"Jamal Khashoggi's body parts have been discovered" – Sources have told @AlexCrawfordSky "grisly details" about how Jamal Khashoggi's body parts were discovered.
For more, head here: https://t.co/bX5HYfFlbo pic.twitter.com/IsYFOgB7fM
— Sky News (@SkyNews) October 23, 2018
Body parts belonging to murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi have been found, according to Sky sources.
Sources have told Sky News the writer had been “cut up” and his face “disfigured”.
One source also suggested Mr Khashoggi’s remains were discovered in the garden of the Saudi consul general’s home.
It comes after Turkey’s president said Mr Khashoggi’s body had not been found and demanded Saudi officials reveal its whereabouts.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: “Why has the body of someone who was officially said to be killed not been found yet?”
We are of course still waiting for the Trump administration to weigh in on all of this, whether they believe the story the Turks are telling us or not.
And if they determine that the Saudis did ferociously murder Khashoggi as Erdogan says, what then? There’s still no hard proof as of yet that the Crown Prince ordered it, but according to Erdogan these are not rogue Saudis:
But Erdogan added that he still wanted answers on several issues, including “who gave orders” to the team…
The Turkish leader did not mention Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who some US lawmakers suspect ordered the killing and whose international reputation has been damaged as a result of the killing and the mystery surrounding it.
King Salman, 82, has handed the day-to-day running of the kingdom to the 33-year-old prince.
Saudi Arabia has said the heir-apparent of the world’s top oil exporter was not involved, but any major decision must be signed off by the highest powers within its ruling Al Saud family.
Mr Erdogan said Riyadh’s suggestion it was a rogue operation “will not satisfy us” and said there should be no diplomatic immunity for his killers.
I guess we’ll have to wait and see what the Trump administration decides. But my guess is if there isn’t any hard evidence indicating that the Crown Prince played a part in this, that there won’t be any ‘severe consequences’ as Trump originally promised.