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Saudi Officials Discussed Capturing Jamal Khashoggi in Intercepted Communications: Report

The Saudis reportedly spoke about wanting to “lure Khashoggi back to Saudi Arabia,” U.S. intelligence learned.

U.S. intelligence “intercepted” the communications of Saudi officials who discussed a plan to capture Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, the newspaper reports. The Saudis reportedly spoke about wanting to “lure Khashoggi back to Saudi Arabia” and capturing him there before he disappeared on Oct. 2. It is unclear whether the Saudis intended to arrest and interrogate him or to kill him. The Washington Post also reported that it is not certain whether U.S. intelligence alerted Khashoggi that he was a potential target. Khashoggi was last seen entering the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, reportedly to “collect a document he needed for his upcoming marriage.” He was never seen leaving the consulate, although the Saudis claimed he left the consulate soon after he arrived. Turkish officials said they believe Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate, and they are investigating the movements of a 15-man squad that traveled to Istanbul from Riyadh the morning Khashoggi entered the consulate. The Saudis denied they sent the team to Istanbul and said they only sent people to the city after Khashoggi disappeared. In an op-ed published in the Post,  Khashoggi’s fiancée implored President Trump “to help shed light” on his disappearance. “Jamal is a valuable person, an exemplary thinker and a courageous man who has been fighting for his principles,” Hatice Cengiz wrote. “I don’t know how I can keep living if he was abducted or killed in Turkey.”