A doctor educated in Scotland has been named as part of an alleged Saudi hit squad suspected of killing and dismembering a dissident journalist.
Forensic pathologist Salah al-Tubaigy is one of 15 individuals identified by Turkish media in connection with the disappearance of writer Jamal Khashoggi.
Dr Tubaigy in a report from Middle East Eye is described as cutting up Mr Khashoggi while he was still alive. Official Saudi sources vigorously deny any involvement.
READ MORE: UK is playing catch-up with Trump over missing Saudi journalist, shadow foreign secretary warns
The Saudi reporter vanished on October 2 while visiting his country’s consulate in Istanbul to pick up paperwork he needed to get married.
There are growing global concerns that Mr Khashoggi was murdered by Saudi Arabia’s regime or figures within the kingdom’s elite.
A protest organized by members of the Turkish-Arabic Media Association
UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and his G7 counterparts on Wednesday said they were “very troubled” by his disappearance, which threatens Saudi relations with its Western allies.
Mr Khashoggi, a columnist for the Washington Post, had been very critical of Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, 33-year-old Mohammed bin Salman, who is usually referred to as MBS.
The New York Times on Tuesday named members of MBS’s security detail as well as Dr Tubaigy as among those suspected of involvement in the case.
The paper stressed that royal guards or aides may not always report directly to their official superiors. It added that Dr Tubaigy’s presence suggested “that killing might have been part of the original plan”.
READ MORE: Emily Thornberry calls for UK to hold Saudi Arabia to account over missing journalist
Dr Tubaigy’s name has been mentioned in connection with the case since last week. CNN called him Salah Muhammad al-Tubaiqi and described hin as head of the forensic medicine department at the Saudi interior ministry.
Dr Tubaigy’s profile has been removed from government websites. However, several sources have said that he completed a master’s degree in forensic medicine at Glasgow University in 2004.
The university said it does not discuss its students or staff.
US secretary of state Mike Pompeo held separate meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu for around 40 minutes each yesterday in the Turkish capital, Ankara.
Visitors enter the Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on Monday
Mr Pompeo met Saudi King Salman and MBS on Tuesday Before leaving Riyadh, he told reporters the Saudi leaders “made no exceptions on who they would hold accountable”.
“They made a commitment to hold anyone connected to any wrongdoing that may be found accountable for that, whether they are a senior officer or official,” Mr Pompeo said.
No major decisions are made outside the ultra-conservative kingdom’s ruling Al Saud family.
READ MORE: Khashoggi: Trump vows 'severe punishments' as audio recording emerges
Mr Khashoggi had fled the country last year amid the rise of MBS.
A report in the Turkish paper Yeni Safak cited what it described as an audio recording of Mr Khashoggi’s death, which it said showed the writer was tortured.
The newspaper said Saudi consul general Mohammed al-Otaibi could be heard on the tape, telling those allegedly torturing Mr Khashoggi: “Do this outside, you’re going to get me in trouble.”
The newspaper said one of the Saudis torturing Mr Khashoggi replied: “Shut up if you want to live when you return to (Saudi) Arabia.”
International news agencies said the security services in Turkey were leaking details of the the case to friendly media.
Turkish police are invistigating the journalist's disappearance
US President Donald Trump, whose administration is close the Saudis, criticised the allegations against Saudi Arabia and compared them to the accusations of sexual assault against Brett Kavanaugh during his Supreme Court confirmation hearing.
“Here we go again with you’re guilty until proven innocent,” Mr Trump said.
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