NYT: Turkish officials say Saudi leadership ordered killing of journalist

Turkish security officials have reportedly concluded that Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated on orders from leadership in Riyadh.

A Turkish official told The New York Times on the condition of anonymity that Khashoggi was killed within hours of arriving at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, and that Saudi agents dismembered his body.

“It is like ‘Pulp Fiction,’” the official told the Times.

Khashoggi, who wrote articles critical of his country’s government, disappeared last week after being seen entering the consulate. Saudi officials have denied allegations that Khashoggi was killed in the consulate.

The official who spoke with the Times said the alleged operation to assassinate Khashoggi was likely a result of direct orders from Saudi leadership.

The official said that on the day of Khashoggi’s disappearance, a group of 15 Saudi agents who held roles in the government and security, including one autopsy expert, arrived in Istanbul via charter flight for just a few hours, during which they visited the consulate. 

One other source told the Times that the Saudis involved took a video of the killing, which has been obtained by Turkish intelligence.

Sabah, a Turkish newspaper, reported that Turkish employees at the Saudi consulate were told not to come to work on that day, according to the Times.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been briefed on the security officials’ conclusions, according to the Times.

President Trump said Monday that he is “concerned” about Khashoggi’s disappearance. Khashoggi is a U.S. resident and has written for American outlets such as The Washington Post.