Jamal Khashoggi: Footage of writer 'body double' emerges after killing

Images air just days after Saudi admission of Khashoggi death in consulate

A Saudi flag is seen at the top of Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. EPA

Footage from a security camera showing a man wearing what looked like Jamal Khashoggi’s clothes leaving the Saudi consulate in Istanbul was broadcast yesterday.

The video, broadcast by CNN, shows the man walking with another man out of the compound through a rear exit, then taking a taxi to Sultan Ahmed Mosque before walking into a public bathroom, changing out of the clothes and leaving.

The images seem to contradict Saudi Arabia’s admission on Saturday that the writer died as the result of a ‘tremendous mistake’.

“Discussions that took place between him and the persons who met him at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul led to a brawl and a fistfight with the citizen, Jamal Khashoggi, which led to his death,” Saudi Attorney ­General Sheikh Saud Al Mojeb had said.

The use of unidentified sources in reporting has set off alarm bells for some who struggle to judge the credibility of each new leak.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has promised that details of Khashoggi’s killing would “be revealed in all its nakedness”.

Mr Erdogan said he would discuss an investigation into the killing with members of his Cabinet yesterday.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir on Sunday told Fox News that Khashoggi’s killing was “a rogue operation” and that “we don’t know where the body is”.

“The individuals who did this did it outside the scope of their authority,” Mr Al Jubeir said. “There obviously was a tremendous mistake made and what compounded the mistake was the attempt to try to cover it up. That is unacceptable to the government.”

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King Salman and Prince Mohammed called Khashoggi’s son, Salah, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported.

Saudi’s explanation was questioned by many politicians in the US and Europe.

Oil prices rose for the first time in three days after US President Donald Trump promised “very severe” consequences if Khashoggi turned out to be dead.

In response, Saudi Arabia threatened to use its economic clout to retaliate against any punitive measures.

But the Saudi Energy Minister, Khalid Al Falih, yesterday said “there is no intention” to impose an oil embargo.

“Saudi Arabia is a very responsible country,” Mr Al Falih said. “For decades we used our oil policy as a responsible economic tool and isolated it from politics.”