The Latest: Turkish TV Shows Black Van Leaving Saudi Mission

The Latest: Turkish TV Shows Black Van Leaving Saudi Mission
A human rights activist holds picture of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a protest outside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on Oct. 9, 2018. (Osman Orsal/Reuters)
The Associated Press
10/10/2018
Updated:
10/10/2018
ISTANBUL—The Latest on the disappearance of a Saudi journalist who went missing after visiting his country’s consulate in Istanbul (all times local):

11 a.m.

A private Turkish television channel close to the country’s president has aired surveillance video of missing writer Jamal Khashoggi walking into the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul and a black van leaving later for the consul’s home.

News channel 24 aired the video Wednesday, suggesting that Khashoggi was inside of the black Mercedes Vito. The channel said the van then drove some 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) to the consul’s home, where it parked inside a garage.

CCTV video obtained by the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet and made available on Oct. 9, 2018, claims to show Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on Oct. 2, 2018. (CCTV/Hurriyet/AP)
CCTV video obtained by the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet and made available on Oct. 9, 2018, claims to show Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on Oct. 2, 2018. (CCTV/Hurriyet/AP)

Turkish officials say they fear Khashoggi was killed at the consulate last week. Saudi Arabia has dismissed the allegations as “baseless.”

The kingdom did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.

9:15 a.m.

A pro-government Turkish newspaper has published the names and photographs of 15 Saudi nationals who allegedly arrived in Istanbul on board two private jets the day journalist Jamal Khashoggi went missing.

Turkish officials have said they believe the Saudi writer and government critic was killed inside his country’s consulate in Istanbul after he visited the mission to obtain a document required to marry his Turkish fiancee. Saudi Arabia has denied the allegations.

Activists, members of the Human Rights Association Istanbul branch, holding posters with photos of missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul, Turkey, on Oct. 9, 2018. (Lefteris Pitarakis/AP)
Activists, members of the Human Rights Association Istanbul branch, holding posters with photos of missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul, Turkey, on Oct. 9, 2018. (Lefteris Pitarakis/AP)

Sabah newspaper, which is close to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Wednesday revealed the identities of what it called a “mysterious” 15-member “assassination squad” who were allegedly involved in Khashoggi’s disappearance.

The paper printed pictures of the 15 Saudi nationals that appeared to be taken by security cameras during police control at an airport.

Sabah revealed the times the Saudi nationals arrived and left Istanbul. They checked into two hotels in Istanbul, the paper said.

7 a.m.

The fiancée of a missing Saudi contributor to The Washington Post is asking President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump to “help shed light” on his disappearance.

In a column published Wednesday by the Post, Hatice Cengiz wrote: “I also urge Saudi Arabia, especially King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to show the same level of sensitivity and release CCTV footage from the consulate.”

Writer Jamal Khashoggi, who had written critically about Prince Mohammed and the kingdom, vanished Oct. 2 while on a trip to the consulate to get paperwork so he could be married to Cengiz.

Turkish officials say they fear Khashoggi was killed, an allegation dismissed as “baseless” by Saudi Arabia.

Turkey said Tuesday it would search the Saudi Consulate. Saudi officials haven’t acknowledged that.