Jamal Khashoggi killing was premeditated, says Saudi Arabia prosecutor

Saudi Arabia’s public prosecutor said that Jamal Khashoggi was killed in a planned operation, based on information it received from Turkish investigators in Istanbul, according to a statement from the kingdom’s Foreign Ministry.

The death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the consulate in Istanbul was "premeditated," state media reported on Thursday.

In statements to Saudi Press Agency, the Attorney-General said the assessment was based on evidence provided by the Turkish authorities.

"The information from the Turkish authorities indicates that the motive of the suspects in the case of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was deliberate," the Saudi prosecutor said.

General Prosecution: Information from the Turkish side affirms that the suspects in Khashoggi's case premeditated their crime.#SPAGOV

— SPAENG (@Spa_Eng) ٢٥ أكتوبر ٢٠١٨

Saudi officials initially said Khashoggi had left the consulate after he disappeared after entering the building on Oct. 2.

later Saudi Arabia said on Saturday Khashoggi was killed in a "fistfight" inside the consulate.

Turkish investigators suspect the prominent journalist was killed and mutilated in a planned operation.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday Khashoggi was the victim of a "heinous murder" and said Turkey would not accept blame for the killings of security and intelligence officials.

He said Saudi Arabia had arrested 15 Saudi suspects who had traveled to Turkey shortly before the attack, as well as three local consular officers and demanded 18 trials in Istanbul.

The case brought charges against Saudi Crown Prince Prince Mohammed bin Salman after Middle East revealed that at least seven of the 15 suspects who traveled to Istanbul were members of his personal security guard.

Speaking at an investment conference in Riyadh on Wednesday, the Crown Prince described the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi as "a heinous crime and can not be justified."

He said Saudi Arabia was working with the Turkish authorities in the case.

"There is no doubt that today's cooperation between the Saudi and Turkish governments is unique," he said. "We know that there are many who are trying to use this thing to drive wedges between the Kingdom and Turkey. They can not do so with King Salman on the throne of Saudi Arabia and a crown prince like Erdogan."

HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman addresses the tragic and painful incident of #JamalKhashoggi @FIIKSA pic.twitter.com/U9cnCvOyiQ

— Saudi Embassy (@SaudiEmbassyUSA) ٢٤ أكتوبر ٢٠١٨

Saudi officials told Reuters that Crown Prince Salman was not aware of the killing and had not been ordered to kill or kidnap him.

A number of senior officials close to Bin Salman were sacked, including Maj. Gen. ahmed al-assiri, a senior intelligence official and saud al-qahtani, adviser to prince mohammed bin salman.