The murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul was "premeditated", Saudi state television reported on Thursday.
Saudi officials originally said that Khashoggi had left the consulate following his disappearance after entering the building on 2 October.
They later admitted he had died inside the consulate, but blamed his death on a fight, and then said he had died as a consequence of a chokehold.
Turkish investigators suspect that Khashoggi was killed and dismembered in a planned operation.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that Khashoggi had been the victim of a "gruesome murder" and indicated that Turkey would not accept blame for the killing being pinned on low-ranked security and intelligence officials.
He said Saudi Arabia had arrested 15 Saudi suspects who flew to Istanbul shortly before the attack, as well as three local consulate staff.
The case has cast scrutiny on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after Middle East Eye revealed that at least seven of the 15 suspects who flew to Istanbul were members of his personal security detail.
More to follow.
[contf]
[contfnew]
middle east eye
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]
