Khashoggi's body parts found after Erdogan claims death was planned murder
Updated : 13:33
Body parts belonging to Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi have been found hours after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in an address to parliament on Tuesday rejected Saudi claims that his death was a tragic accident and accused Saudi of pre-planning a "ferocious murder".
The Turkish President demanded Saudi Arabia provide answers about where the journalist’s body was and who ordered the operation since they had recently admitted he had died in the consulate after weeks of denying any knowledge on the case, claiming he died in a tragic accident when a brawl with consulate officials got out of hand.
According to a report by Sky News body parts belonging to the journalist were found in the garden of the Saudi consul's general home. Sky's sources said the body had been cut to pieces and his face had been disfigured.
In the address to parliament on Tuesday morning, Erdogan said a Saudi team carried out reconnaissance at two separate locations and the cameras and a hard drive were removed from the Saudi consulate before the journalist entered the premises on October 2 for his scheduled appointment. He also said the Turkish investigation had found three teams of 15 Saudi nationals arrived in Istanbul on different flights in the days and hours leading up to the murder.
Turkish officials insist that Khashoggi’s death was “violently planned” ahead of time and carried-out by Saudi operatives dispatched to Istanbul who later covered it up. A source told CNN the Saudi consulate had used a “body double” of the journalist that left the premises on the day he died.
"We stated that we would not remain silent and that we would take every step necessary for justice to be done," Erdogan said at a parliamentary address.
He also confirmed that 18 people had been arrested over the case but did not reveal any more information gathered about the killing.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said on Sunday that Khashoggi's killing was part of a rogue operation and that the government would punish those responsible.