Jamal Khashoggi’s ‘ferocious’ murder was planned by Saudi officials days before his death, says Erdogan

Recep Tayyip Erodgan, Turkey’s president, said Tuesday that the death of Jamal Khashoggi was “a savage murder” planned in advance by Saudi officials, as he rejected Riyadh’s claim that the journalist was killed accidentally by rogue operatives. 

Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, responded by summoning Mr Khashoggi’s son to the royal palace for a photo opportunity where he and the king “expressed their condolences” over the journalist’s death. 

In his first major speech since Mr Khashoggi disappeared on October 2, Mr Erdogan said Turkish intelligence indicated the killing was “a planned operation” and called for “those who gave the orders” to be held accountable for the crime. …