Jamal Khashoggi: Turkey scours forest for HACKED UP remains after BARBAROUS ‘murder’

Turkish police believe Mr Khashoggi’s killers may have dumped his remains in Belgrad Forest, next to Istanbul, and near the rural city of Yalova, 90 kilometres (55 miles) away from the Turkish capital, senior officials have said.

One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “The investigations led to some suspicion that his remains may be in the city of Yalova and the Belgrad forest, police have been searching these areas.”

A “farmhouse or villa” may have been used for the disposal of remains, the official said.

The pro-government Sabah newspaper published photos of a man it claimed to be someone who travels with the Saudi crown prince.

The time-stamped photos showed the man outside the Saudi consulate building in Istanbul on the morning Mr Khashoggi disappeared, Sabah said.

Mr Khashoggi went to the consulate seeking documents for his planned marriage to his Turkish fiancee, who was waiting outside and was never seen again.

Turkish officials allege Mr Khashoggi was murdered inside the consulate by Saudi Arabian agents – but the Kingdom denies the charges.

Of the alleged killing, Saudi dissident Ali al-Ahmed told Express.co.uk: “This really is the true nature of the Saudi monarchy – it has has been able to hide and cover up this atrocity with the help of its western backers.

“This is the picture – the ISIS-style killing of a man who was their servant, to be honest – he was their mouthpiece for many years.

“He veered away from them and they decided to send a message and commit what was essentially a public execution.”

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump added his voice to concerns for Mr Khashoggi, a US resident and Washington Post columnist, after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Riyadh to discuss the situation with King Salman.

Trump, who has forged closer ties with Saudi Arabia and the 33-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, acknowledged for the first time on Thursday that Khashoggi had been murdered.

He told reporters before boarding Air Force One to attend a campaign rally: “It certainly looks that way to me.

“It’s very sad.”

He added: “Unless the miracle of all miracles happens, I would acknowledge that he’s dead.

“That’s based on everything — intelligence coming from every side.

Asked what would be the consequences for Saudi Arabia, Trump said: “Well, it’ll have to be very severe.

“I mean, it’s bad, bad stuff. But we’ll see what happens.”