1 member of Saudi hit squad reportedly wore Khashoggi's clothes in abandoned decoy ploy

After Saudi agents killed journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, one member of the 15-man Saudi team that flew to Turkey apparently to abduct or murder Khashoggi left the consulate in the slain journalists clothes, CNN reported Monday morning, citing a senior Turkish official and surveillance video. The Saudi decoy, who Turkey identifies as Mustafa al-Madani, is captured wearing a fake beard and glasses that make him resemble Khashoggi, a Saudi national and U.S. resident. Al-Madani was captured on camera leaving the consulate with an accomplice by the back door, taking a taxi to a popular tourist destination, then ducking into a bathroom and emerging in his own clothes, sans beard and glasses, CNN reports.

Saudi Arabia apparently meant this ruse to serve as evidence that Khashoggi left the consulate alive, then disappeared elsewhere. Turkish officials tell CNN they suspect the Saudis abandoned that ploy when they realized Turkey had quickly figured out what they'd done to Khashoggi and recognized that their decoy would not stand up to scrutiny.

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