Khashoggi murder was 'premeditated,' Saudi Arabia now says

Saudi Arabia has a new explanation for Jamal Khashoggi's death.

The country's attorney general announced Thursday that the murder of the U.S.-based Saudi journalist was "premeditated," the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported. That's a change from Saudi Arabia's earlier story, which declared that Khashoggi died during a "botched interrogation."

This new conclusion, which more closely matches what Turkish officials say happened, draws from a joint investigation involving Saudi Arabia and Turkey, per the press agency. Turkey has long pushed responsibility on the Saudi government, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan saying Tuesday that the "savage" murder was pre-planned by Saudi officials. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has maintained that he had no knowledge of the "rogue" operation.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up

Khashoggi, a journalist who criticized the Saudi government, was killed in Istanbul's Saudi consulate on Oct. 2. CIA Director Gina Haspel is currently in Riyadh investigating, and has reportedly heard what Turkey claims to be audio of Khashoggi's murder. The U.S. plans to revoke visas from Saudi suspects they've already identified, and is considering sanctions.