First Reaction from Bin Salman: Perpetrators of Khashoggi's Heinous Murder Will Be Punished

In his first reaction to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman described the incident as 'painful' and asserted that 'justice will be served.' Speaking at an investment conference in Riyadh, he stated, 'This heinous crime is unjustifiable.' He emphasized that those responsible for the incident will be punished and that Saudi Arabia and Turkey will cooperate to 'reach a conclusion.' Bin Salman also stressed that relations between the two countries will not be severed. In recent weeks, there has been significant focus on the potential role of the Crown Prince in Khashoggi's killing, with some Republican senators identifying him as the mastermind behind the murder. Just hours before Bin Salman's remarks, he had a phone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan regarding the case. A source from the Turkish presidency reported that the two leaders discussed necessary steps to clarify the circumstances surrounding Khashoggi's murder. After two weeks of denial, Saudi Arabia admitted that Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate but attributed it to rogue elements. However, Turkey claims, based on evidence it has presented, that the murder was premeditated.