Jamal Khashoggi: Police 'get permission' to search well in Saudi consulate garden
The Saudis are said to have initially refused but now the search is set to take place later on Wednesday.
Wednesday 24 October 2018 16:58, UK
Authorities have reportedly gained permission to search a well in the garden of the Saudi consulate in Istanbul - where journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed.
Turkish broadcaster NTV said police had been given the green light after previous reports that the Saudis had refused.
The search is expected to take place later today.
Two sources on Tuesday told Sky News that "cut up" body parts had been found, with one saying they were discovered in the garden of the consul general's home.
Saudi Arabia has said Mr Khashoggi died in a "fist fight" at the consulate on 2 October despite Turkey's president saying it was a calculated murder plot.
It comes as Theresa May told the Commons on Wednesday that anyone suspected of being involved in the murder would be banned from the UK.
"The Home Secretary is taking action against all suspects to prevent them entering the UK. If these individuals currently have visas, those visas will be revoked today," said Mrs May.
She said there must be a "full and credible investigation" and that the claim Mr Khashoggi died in a fight "does not amount to a credible explanation".
Meanwhile, Iran's leader, Hassan Rouhani, has also entered the diplomatic row.
"I don't think that any country would dare do such a thing without US backing," he said in remarks broadcast on state television.
Donald Trump yesterday described the journalist's killing as one of the "worst cover-ups in the history of cover-ups".
The American president said: "The execution was no good. And the cover-up, if you want to call it that, was certainly no good.
"Whoever thought of that idea I think is in big trouble - and they should be in big trouble."
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Mr Khashoggi was the victim of a "savage murder," and that he is "determined" that no one involved should escape - including those who ordered the killing.
Speaking in Ankara on Wednesday, he said: "We are determined not to allow a cover-up of this murder and to make sure all those responsible - from those who ordered it to those who carried it out - will not be allowed to avoid justice."
Turkish media has identified a "hit squad" of 15 people who it says helped torture, kill and dismember Mr Khashoggi, and Saudi authorities have arrested 18 people.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said America had identified "some" of those involved and the State Department later said 21 suspects would be declared ineligible to enter the US.
Mr Trump also said he had spoken to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who "strongly said that he had nothing to do with this".
He is due to be briefed about the suspected murder on Wednesday afternoon by US officials following the CIA chief's visit to Istanbul.
After this, Mr Trump said he would know "pretty much everything there is to know."