The former head of MI6 has said evidence all points to Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince ordering the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Sir John Sawers also dismissed as “blatant fiction” the idea, floated by President Trump, that rogue elements in Saudi’s military were behind the disappearance of the writer in Istanbul on October 2.
The 63-year-old’s remarks come as sources claimed Saudi King Salman is now personally intervening in the Khashoggi case after being kept in the dark about the crisis by his powerful son’s aides.
Former MI6 chief John Sawers
Sawers, who headed MI6 between 2009 and 2014, said he had based his assessment on talks conversations with sources in Whitehall coupled with his understanding of Turkey’s intelligence services.
He said “all the evidence points to it being ordered and carried out” by people close to Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler.
Sawers told the BBC Radio 4 show, World at One, that “I don’t think he would have done this if he hadn’t thought he had license from the U.S. administration to frankly behave as he wished to do so.”
He added: “If it is proven, and it looks very likely to be the case, that Prince Mohammed ordered the killing of the journalist it is a step too far – one that the UK, the EU and the US are going to have to respond to.”
The “rogue elements” theory of Khashoggi’s disappearance “simply doesn’t hold water,” he said.
Trump is being watched closely as his administration is seen being closely aligned with Prince Mohammed.
As for the Trump Organization, the president has bragged about doing “millions and millions of dollars” in personal business in Saudi Arabia.