Saudi, Turkish officials arrive at consul's residence

By Mucahit Turetken and Cigdem Alyanak

ISTANBUL

Eleven Saudi officials on Wednesday arrived at the Saudi consul general's residence in Istanbul for investigation on the missing Saudi journalist.

Four civilian and one official vehicles arrived at the residence of Mohammad al-Otaibi who left Turkey for Riyadh on Tuesday.

Turkish officials, including crime scene investigation units, specialists from Istanbul Provincial Security Directorate’s anti-terror branch, acting chief prosecutor and chief public prosecutor, also arrived at his residence to probe the incident.

The officials started the search after they cordoned off the building and carried the necessary equipment to the residence.

Some officials from crime scene investigation units were seen searching the roof of the residence while drone cameras were used to capture photos of the building.

Later in the evening, another crime scene investigation unit arrived at the Saudi Consulate building. The teams extended the search to the garden of the building and a fire brigade was sent to empty the water well in the garden.

The units were seen bringing tarp to the Saudi Consulate building.

Jamal Khashoggi has long been feared killed after he entered the Saudi Consulate building in Istanbul on Oct. 2 and was never seen exiting.

On the same day, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while Khashoggi was still inside, Turkish police sources said. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.