A/HRC/41/CRP.1 150. On 26 October, two additional Mabahith officials flew to Ankara where they searched the Saudi Embassy.105 The two men returned to Istanbul on October 27. 151. On October 21, in an interview with Fox News, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al Jubeir explained that it took eighteen days to confirm Mr. Khashoggi’s death because the Saudi authorities had reports indicating that he left the Consulate. According to the Minister, eventually an investigating team in Turkey had found discrepancies. He dismissed claims that the Crown Prince knew about the killing, calling it a “rogue operation”. Minister al Jebeir added, “Even the senior leadership for the intelligence services was not aware of this. This was a rogue operation. This was an operation where individuals ended up exceeding the authorities and responsibilities they had. They made a mistake when they killed Khashoggi in the consulate and they tried to cover up for it.”106 152. That same day, Saudi authorities announced that they detained eighteen individuals as suspects in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. The suspects included the fifteen individuals identified by Turkey, as well as three consular security attachés. The Saudi authorities did not release any names besides those of the consular staff.107 153. On 21 October, Reuters published a story mentioning that an anonymous Saudi official presented its journalists with “intelligence documents which appeared to describe an initiative to bring dissidents home to Saudi Arabia, including the specific one involving Khashoggi.”108 154. On 22 October, the two officials from the Saudi Criminal Evidence Department and toxicology expert, accused by Turkish Intelligence of aiding in the cleanup of the Consulate, left Turkey. 109 The same day, a third man, who was part of the three-man Mabahith “Technical Team” also left Turkey.110 XI. Some international reactions to the Saudi admission 155. On 19 October, the United States White House said, in a statement, that “The United States acknowledges the announcement from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that its investigation into the fate of Jamal Khashoggi is progressing and that it has taken action against the suspects it has identified thus far. We will continue to closely follow the international investigations into this tragic incident and advocate for justice that is timely, transparent, and in accordance with all due process. We are saddened to hear confirmation of Mr. Khashoggi's death, and we offer our deepest condolences to his family, fiancée, and friends.” 111 In separate comments during an event, President Trump said that the Saudi admission was a “great first step,” but reiterated his disapproval of sanctions for Mr. Khashoggi’s death.112 156. On 20 October, Germany’s Chancellor Merkel, speaking at a regional convention of her political party, said that the events surrounding Mr. Khashoggi’s murder still “haven’t been cleared up and of course we demand that they be cleared up”113 157. Also on 20 October, France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that “France condemns this murder in the strongest terms.” He added that “the confirmation of Mr. Jamal 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 Information from Turkish Intelligence. https://outline.com/AXHkLJ. Information from Turkish Intelligence. https://www.reuters.com/article/saudi-khashoggi-official/amid-scepticism-saudi-official-providesanother-version-of-khashoggi-death-idINKCN1MV053. Information from Turkish Intelligence. Information from Turkish Intelligence. https://www.npr.org/2018/10/19/658732039/turkey-questions-employees-of-saudi-consulate-overjournalists-disappearance. https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1053427595885326336/photo/1. http://time.com/5430335/angela-merkel-european-leaders-facts-khashoggis-death/. 29