Saudi Crown Prince approved assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, White House report finds

SAUDI Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a White House report has found.

The explosive report claims that Royal Mohammed bin Salman viewed the dissident as a threat – and backed his killing.


Khashoggi, a journalist who was critical of the crown prince's policies, was killed and dismembered by a team of operatives linked to the crown prince in the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018.

Riyadh has denied any involvement by the crown prince, who is Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler.

The Kingdom initially claimed that the writer, who fled the country in 2017, had left the building alive – but later admitted that he was killed.

An explosive report released today by the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence claimed that the Prince "approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi."

The report lists 21 individuals who US intelligence services claim they have "high confidence" were complicit in Mr Khashoggi's death.

“The Crown Prince viewed Khashoggi as a threat to the Kingdom and broadly supported using violent measures if necessary to silence him,” the CIA report reads.

“Although Saudi officials had pre-planned an unspecified operation against Khashoggi we do not know how far in advance Saudi officials decided to harm him", it adds.

The Crown Prince has previously accepted "full responsibility" as the killing "was committed by individuals working for the Saudi government" – but has maintained he was ignorant of any plans.

But the circumstances surrounding Khashoggi's death sparked controversy, with global leaders questioning the Saudi government's version of events.

Khashoggi had entered the building to obtain a document certifying he had divorced his ex-wife, so that he could marry his Turkish fiancée Cengiz.

She waited outside – and never saw him again. Cengiz later revealed that he had told her to call an adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan if he did not return.

The Saudi government remained silent for nineteen days, before claiming he died during a fight inside the Saudi consulate.

Their claims followed reports from Turkish investigators and intelligence agencies that it was a premeditated strike.

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