Erdogan Rejects Riyadh’s Khashoggi Account, Calls Killing “Ferocious”

The Turkish leader labeled the killing “ferocious”, adding that his body is yet to be found.

"The information obtained so far and the evidence found shows that Khashoggi was murdered in a ferocious manner," Erdogan told lawmakers.

The Turkish leader’s speech was highly anticipated and the public expected him to make bombshell revelations. But his address was only meant to officially refuse the credibility of the Saudi remarks about the journalist.

He said that Ankara had information that a group of Saudi consulate staff carried out a reconnaissance mission in a forest outside Istanbul a day before Kashoggi’s Assassination on October 2.

Further, he called on the kingdom to hand over the 18 people Riyadh claimed were arrested in connection to the killing in Saudi Arabia and will stand trial. His call for their extradition was taken a question to the credibility of the Saudi trial.

The Turkish leader also told the members of the parliament that shortly before Khashoggi’s arrival at the consulate, the security cameras were disconnected.

"We have significant signs that this was not something which happened instantaneously, but was planned," Erdogan said, cited by CNN.

On Monday, Turkey revealed footage of one of the 15-member Saudi hit squad leaving the consulate in Khashoggi’s clothes to mislead police outside the diplomatic building.

Also on the same day, Turkey said it found in a parking in Istanbul a missing Saudi consulate’s car. The car was one of a couple of others that were seen parked next to the consulate’s door and are believed to be have carried the hit men.     

The president appears to have revealed only a very small part of the information and evidence at Ankara’s disposal. Earlier, a Turkish official, spoke to the New York Times on the condition of anonymity, said that Turkey had audio evidence of the murder, showing that the victim was tortured, killed, and dismembered.

Erdogan has not presented any of the evidence available to him today.

Saudi Arabia ruling family tried to distance itself from the crime by saying that the Crown Prince was not aware of the incident, something Erdogan rejected today by saying the world public opinion’s demands for truth will be met only “when everyone who is responsible, from the person who gave the order to those who executed it, is called to answer.”

Erdogan’s remarks also are seen a rejection of Trump’s allegation that “rogue killers” may have killed the Washington Post columnist.

Upon Riyadh’s admission of Khashoggi assassination on early Saturday, Trump said he believed Saudi Arabia’s explanation. The president earlier said that he will defend Saudi Arabia against criticism and Khashoggi case will not stop White House from weapons contracts with the Saudis because the oil-wealthy kingdom bought hundreds of billions of dollars worth of arms from the US and that Washington will be “foolish” to cancel the deals.

Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to get papers for his upcoming marriage to his finance Hatice Cengiz, a Turkish national. He never came out. It took two weeks before Saudi Arabia admit that Saudi agents killed the prominent journalist, an outspoken detractor of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for home and foreign policy.