by The Chicago Times Staff
December 7, 2021
PARIS — According to Interpol, a former member of the Saudi Royal Guard was arrested in France on Tuesday for his alleged role in the high-profile murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
According to Interpol, the 33-year-old man, Khaled Aedh Al-Otaibi, was held at Charles de Gaulle Airport outside Paris on Tuesday morning as he was about to catch an aircraft to Riyadh.
He is suspected of being a member of the commando unit who killed Khashoggi at Istanbul’s Saudi Consulate in October 2018. According to shocking allegations, the journalist’s body was dismembered using a bone saw and then dissolved in acid after the murder.
Al-Otaibi is one of 20 Saudis sought by Interpol in connection with the heinous murder.
Turkey has issued an arrest warrant for him and asked assistance from Interpol.
According to court filings, Al-Otaibi will be “subject to extradition” to Turkey.
The suspect’s arrest warrant is anticipated to be served on Al-Otaibi by Wednesday morning, according to the Paris public prosecutor’s office.
The announcement came only days after French President Emmanuel Macron met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a visit to the United Arab Emirates. Some western media and politicians have accused the crown prince of being behind the assassination.
Bin Salman allegedly ordered an operation to capture or kill the journalist, who was critical of Saudi policy, according to a February report by US intelligence.
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