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Al Jazeera/Agencies
Doha
Turkish and US officials have audio and video evidence that show missing Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi was tortured and later killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Al Jazeera reported on Friday, quoting The Washington Post.
Khashoggi, a critic of the Saudi government, has not been seen since he entered the consulate building on October 2.
US and Turkish officials told the Post there are audio and video recordings that show a Saudi assassination team seizing the journalist as he walked in. He was then killed and the body dismembered, the officials told the Post.
The audio was particularly gruesome, the sources said."The voice recording from inside the embassy lays out what happened to Jamal after he entered," said one official speaking anonymously because the intelligence is classified."You can hear how he was interrogated, tortured, and then murdered."
Another unnamed official confirmed men could be heard beating Khashoggi on the recording.
It was unclear how the Turkish and American officials obtained the recordings.
David Katz, CEO of Global Security Group, told Al Jazeera the intelligence officials quoted by the Post likely have audio and video that clandestinely recorded Khashoggi's killing.
"There is clearly tension between the Saudis and the Turkish government, so, that suggests Turkey is going to be directing its very considerable intelligence apparatus at everything to do with the Saudi government in Turkey for sure," said Katz.
"So it's very possible that they do in fact have audio and video recordings of things that have gone on inside the consulate, whether that was bugs planted or electronic intercepts," he said.
Meanwhile, a Saudi delegation arrived in Turkey for talks on Khashoggi case. The delegation, whose composition was not immediately clear, is expected to meet with Turkish officials in Ankara at the weekend, state media said on Friday.
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