Saudi Consulate in Istanbul bustles with activity

A busy day is observed at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul as the investigation into the disappearance of prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi continues.

A person wearing a white apron and carrying a backpack was seen entering the residence of Consul General of Saudi Arabia Mohammad al-Otaibi, reported an Anadolu Agency correspondent on the ground on Friday.

Separately, 11 other people who came in four civilian vehicles entered the Saudi Consulate and did not speak to the press.

Meanwhile the members of local and foreign press are on alert in front of the consulate building.

Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, has not been heard from since Oct. 2 when he visited the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, amid speculation he was killed by Saudi authorities.

On the same day, 15 Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while Khashoggi was also inside, police sources said. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.

Saudi authorities have yet to give a clear explanation of Khashoggi’s fate, while several countries -- particularly Turkey, the U.S. and the U.K. -- have expressed their desire that the matter should be elucidated as soon as possible.

Turkish presidential aide Ibrahim Kalın said on Thursday that a joint working team between Turkey and Saudi Arabia will be formed to investigate the case in all its aspects.