Photos Link Suspect in Alleged Killing of Journalist to Saudi Government

Oil executives say they are disturbed by photos of the Saudi crown prince and the energy minister standing in Houston with a man who appears to be a key suspect in the killing of a Saudi journalist.

The apparent presence of Maher al Mutrib, a Saudi royal bodyguard, at a Saudi Aramco event in April illustrates the close links to the highest levels of the Saudi government of some suspects named by Saudi and Turkish officials as being involved in the death of Jamal Khashoggi.

Saudi officials acknowledged that a team of operatives, including Mr. Mutrib, confronted Mr. Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2 in an incident that led to his death. A Saudi investigation found the operatives botched an attempt to interrogate Mr. Khashoggi and then covered up the killing and disposed of his body. Mr. Mutrib is among 18 Saudis detained after the Riyadh-led investigation, Saudi officials said.

Turkish officials say the Saudi operatives tortured, killed and dismembered Mr. Khashoggi. They say that after reviewing evidence, including an audio file allegedly recorded while Mr. Khashoggi was being killed, they suspect Mr. Mutrib led the group of Saudi operatives.

Read the full article and more in The Wall Street Journal.