Saudi Arabia sends team to Istanbul to search for missing Jamal Khashoggi

An official source at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul said that a security delegation of Saudi investigators arrived in Istanbul on Saturday following the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The delegation arrived following a request by the Saudi government, and the acceptance of the Turkish authorities, the source said, adding:

“Saudi Arabia’s appreciation for the brotherly Turkish government’s acceptance of the request. The delegation is there to assist in the investigations regarding the disappearance of the Saudi citizen Jamal Khashoggi.

Khashoggi speaks at an event hosted by Middle East Monitor in London. (Reuters)

“The source stressed that the Kingdom holds the safety and wellbeing of its citizens wherever they are, and that relevant authorities in the Kingdom are diligently following up on this matter to uncover the complete facts,” a statement on Saudi Press Agency read.

Saudi Arabia’s consul in Istanbul opened up his mission on Saturday in an effort to show that Khashoggi, who went missing four days ago, was not on the premises and said that talk of his kidnapping was baseless.

Reuters journalists were able to tour the consulate in northern Istanbul which Khashoggi entered on Tuesday to get documents for his forthcoming marriage. His fiancee, who had waited outside, said he never came out.

An official at Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul had dismissed a Reuters report which cited Turkish officials claiming Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate.