British intelligence ‘knew of Saudi plot to kidnap Jamal Khashoggi’
British intelligence was reportedly aware of a Saudi plot to kidnap Jamal Khashoggi three weeks before he was murdered.
British intelligence was aware of a Saudi Arabia plot to kidnap dissident Jamal Khashoggi three weeks before he was brutally murdered in Istanbul, and that a warning to the Middle East country was ignored, a British newspaper has dramatically claimed.
The Sunday Express reported that British intercepts of communications by the Kingdom General Intelligence Directorate revealed that a member of the Saudi royal family gave orders for Mr Khashoggi to be kidnapped and returned to Saudi Arabia. High ranking intelligence sources told the paper that the instructions “left the door open’’ for other actions should the journalist be troublesome.
The paper quoted an unnamed source saying: “We were initially made aware that something was going in the first week of September, around three weeks before Mr Khashoggi walked into the consulate on October 2, though it took more time for other details to emerge.
“These details included primary orders to capture Mr Khashoggi and bring him back to Saudi Arabia for questioning. However, the door seemed to be left open for alternative remedies to what was seen as a big problem.
“We know the orders came from a member of the royal circle but have no direct information to link them to Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.’’
The Crown Prince has denied knowledge of the murder at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, carried out by a 15 man hit squad, including a forensic scientist armed with a bone saw, and a body double.
The Saudi Arabian Attorney-General Saud al-Mojeb was to arrive in Istanbul on Sunday to help with the Turkish investigation into Mr Khashoggi’s death. The 59-year-old US based journalist who wrote for The Washington Post, was killed shortly after entering the Saudi consulate on October 2.
According to the Saudi Express Mr Khashoggi was gathering evidence about Saudi Arabia’s use of chemical weapons in its war with Yemen.
But the British security source claimed that the British knew the movement of the hit squad the day before the murder, even warning Saudi Arabia. The paper said: ”Crucially, the highly-placed source confirms that MI6 had warned his Saudi Arabian counterparts to cancel the mission - though this request as ignored.
“On October 1 we became aware of the movement of a group, which included members of Ri’āsat Al-Istikhbārāt Al-‘Āmah (GID) to Istanbul, and it was pretty clear what their aim was.
“Through channels we warned that this was not a good idea. Subsequent events show that our warning was ignored.”
Turkey has demanded that the members of the Saudi Arabian hit squad be returned to Turkey to face trial for Mr Khashoggi’s murder, a request so far resisted by Saudi Arabia.
After vehemently insisting Mr Khashoggi had left the consulate, Saudi Arabia then took weeks before admitting his death. Initially the country said that he had died during a fight, but the Saudi Arabian officials have now acknowledged Turkey’s position and agreed his death was premeditated.
Women egged in anti-Semitic attack at Bondi Beach
Three men allegedly set upon a number of women on Saturday night in Sydney's east, throwing eggs at them, with police believing they were targeted because of the clothes they were wearing.
‘Hunted down and locked up’: PM condemns latest anti-Semitic attack
Anthony Albanese has condemned a spate of anti-Semitic hate crimes which has culminated in the discovery of a caravan packed with explosives outside Sydney, declaring the perpetrators 'would not succeed' creating hate and division.