Turkish police leave Saudi consulate in Istanbul after nine hours
Istanbul: A team of Turkish police investigating the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who vanished after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul two weeks ago, spent more than nine hours in the building, a witness said.
A crime scene investigation team of around 10 people left the consulate after completing a search early on Tuesday, Istanbul time.
Khashoggi, a US resident, Washington Post columnist and leading critic of the powerful Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, vanished after entering the consulate to get marriage documents. Turkish officials say they believe he was murdered there and his body removed.
Four forensic vehicles arrived outside the consulate and took away soil samples as well as a metal door from the garden, the witness said. A police dog was part of the search team.
A cleaning crew walked into the consulate hours ahead of the investigative team's arrival, carrying buckets, mops and what appear to be a delivery of ammonia-based cleaning products.
Ealier reports also said Turkish officials removed bags from the building before police arrived.
Turkish officials have said they fear a Saudi hit team killed and dismembered Khashoggi.
The kingdom has called such allegations "baseless" but has not offered any evidence Khashoggi ever left the consulate.
Reuters
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