Turkish police have identified five suspects - four of whom have ties to the Saudi crown prince - in the investigation launched into the disappearance and alleged murder of prominent journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to a U.S. media report.
One of the suspects, Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb, has close ties to Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, as photographs show him disembarking from airplanes with the crown prince in Madrid and Paris, according to the The New York Times. The suspect was also photographed next to the crown prince on visits to the U.N. and U.S.
A second suspect, Abdulaziz Mohammed al-Hawsawi, is reportedly a member of the crown prince's security detail as cited by a French professional who had previously worked with the royal family.
Thaar Ghaleb al-Barbi, a third suspect, is a high-ranking Saudi royal guard, promoted to the position for his valor in the defense of the crown prince's quarters in Jeddah, Saudi media reported.
A fourth suspect, Muhammad Saad Alzahrani, traveled with a passport under the name of another Saudi royal guard member. In addition, footage shows the royal guard member wearing a different name tag.
The final suspect, Dr. Salah al-Tubaigy, the head of Forensic Evidence at the Saudi General Security Department who traveled to Istanbul on a Saudi expedition, is allegedly responsible for dismembering Khashoggi in the Saudi consul's Istanbul residence.
The New York Times echoed reports that Turkish authorities have successfully identified at least nine out of 15 suspects who have ties to Saudi's military, government or security services. The report stated that the suspects were transferred on private jets by a Saudi company that has direct links to the crown prince and Saudi's Interior Ministry.
