The graphic details of the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi prompted an emotional response from CIA Director Gina Haspel and top U.S. security officials, according to a new book.
The book, Diplomatic Atrocity: The Dark Secrets of the Khashoggi Murder by Ferhat Ünlü, Abdurrahman Şimşek and Nazif Karaman, which was released last Friday, takes a closer look at one of the most mysterious and devastating crimes against a journalist in recent years, according to the Turkish newspaper Daily Sabah.
A Washington Post columnist and U.S. resident, Khashoggi, who was openly critical of the leadership of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was allegedly assassinated by Saudi government oficials while visiting the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul last October. The details of his death were not immediately revealed but emerged little by little.
Reactions to a set of audio recordings from the "hit squad" are revealed in the new book, and they reportedly made Haspel, a seasoned operative, uncomfortable as she listened to them.
There are five minutes in particular that sparked an emotional reaction, according to the book. The five minutes include the killing of Khashoggi, as well as his final words. The assassins, according to the book, had asked Khashoggi to send a text to his son, which he'd refused to do. "If you can't reach me for a while, don't worry," they ordered him to write.
"Are you going to kill me? Are you going to strangle me?" Khashoggi responded. When the assassins began the killing, the audio revealed they'd placed a nylon bag over Khashoggi's head. "Do not cover my mouth, I have asthma. You are going to have to strangle me," were Khashoggi's last words. Acording to the book, Khashoggi struggled with his killers for about five minutes.
Reports surrounding Khashoggi's murder revealed there were 15 individuals involved in the planned killing, according to Daily Sabah. The book, however, revealed three additional killers, who do not appear in the recordings.
In a seven-and-a-half minute audio recording, details about the disposal of Khashoggi's body can be heard. A toxicologist, Salah Muhammed A Tubaigy, spoke of his role in cutting up Khashoggi's body. "I've never worked on a warm body so far, but I can easily handle him [Khashoggi]. Normally, when I'm cutting cadavers, I would put my headphones on and listen to music. I'd also drink my coffee at the same time," Tubaigy said in the recording, according to the book.
Khashoggi was first reported missing by his fiancée, Hatice Cengiz. He was last seen on October 2, when he entered the consulate.
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