Saudis say journalist killed in ‘fight’ at consulate; 18 detained
By Jordan Fabian and Chris Mills Rodrigo - 10/19/18 06:42 PM EDT
Saudi Arabia acknowledged Friday that dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside its consulate in Istanbul, asserting he died from a chokehold during a physical altercation.
The Saudi government claimed Khashoggi got in an argument with people inside the consulate when a fight broke out that led to his death, an explanation that immediately drew questions in Washington.
Eighteen Saudi nationals have been arrested and are under investigation in connection with the case, the kingdom said in a statement put out by state-run media channels around 1 a.m. Saturday in Riyadh.
Five top officials were also fired following the initial investigation. The ousted group includes Saud al-Qahtani, a top adviser to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and deputy intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Ahmed al-Assiri.
The announcement marks the first time the Saudi government has acknowledged that Khashoggi died inside its consulate after he was seen entering the facility on Oct. 2 to obtain documents for his marriage.
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https://thehill.com/homenews/news/412341-saudis-admit-missing-journalist-dead-18-nationals-detained
