A 33-year-old man was detained before his flight at 9:30 a.m. local time, and was traveling under a real passport, a spokesperson for the French National Police told CNN. He was placed in judicial detention, the spokesperson added.
The suspect was identified as Khaled Aedh Al-Otaibi, radio station RTL reported, citing French police and judicial sources. French police would not confirm the man’s identity to CNN.
Al-Otaibi was one of 16 individuals banned from the United States by the State Department in April 2019 for “their roles in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.”
Likewise, the British government placed Al-Otaibi under sanctions in July 2020. The UK government said “he was involved in the unlawful killing of Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul … as part of the 15 man team sent to Turkey by Saudi authorities. He was involved in the concealment of evidence at the Saudi General Consul’s residence following the killing.”
There has been no official reaction from the Turkish authorities regarding the detention of the Saudi national by French police.
This is a developing story, more to come.
More News
Rob Menendez’s Family Name Fueled His Rise. Will It Also Be His Undoing?
Israel and Hamas Could Restart Cease-Fire Talks Within a Week, Officials Say
Richard Sherman, Songwriter of Many Spoonfuls of Sugar, Dies at 95