A Saudi mission to interrogate and possibly abduct journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul was organized by a high-ranking officer with the General Intelligence Presidency, Saudi Arabia’s main intelligence service, three sources familiar with the case told CNN.
One of those sources described the officer as close to the inner circle of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It is unclear whether the crown prince authorized an interrogation or abduction. Several officials CNN spoke with said the apparent killing could not have happened without the direct knowledge of the 33-year-old crown prince, the kingdom’s de facto ruler, who is known by his initials “MBS.”
Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of Britain’s opposition Labour party, called the purported killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi “an abominable tragedy” in an interview with CNN’s Nina Dos Santos.
“The issues that have come to light of the death in Istanbul of a Saudi national who was visiting the embassy, call into question the relationship — the close relationship –- with Saudi Arabia of so many western countries. Our immediate call is for the suspension of all arms supplies to Saudi Arabia,” he said.
Corbyn also criticized Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative government for being too slow to respond to the incident.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s big investment conference has lost another high-profile guest after International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde dropped out.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan “if all goes as planned.” Pompeo is traveling to Turkey after visiting Saudi Arabia to discuss missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi with King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir.
