KILLER DRESSED IN VICTIM’S CLOTHES IN CLUMSY BID TO FOOL WORLD

DRESSED in Jamal Khashoggi’s clothes after his brutal murder inside the consulate, this is the moment a Saudi official strolled around Istanbul in a deception operation.

Footage showed Mustafa al-Madani, a member of the 15-strong hit squad flown in from Saudi Arabia, pretending to be the journalist on the day of the killing.

But once he had returned to the consulate, the Saudi hit squad reviewed the footage and decided he did not look sufficiently like the victim so they wiped the CCTV clean. A Turkish official said the footage showed Madani was brought to Istanbul to act as a body double for the high-profile journalist.

Surveillance footage from the morning of October 2 showed him entering the consulate by the front door at 11.03am, two hours before Mr Khashoggi arrived.

He walked in with Saudi’s forensic medicine chief Salah al-Tubaiqi.

Madani, who is similar in height, age and build to Mr Khashoggi, 59, was wearing a blue and white checked shirt and dark blue trousers, and had no beard.

The 57-year-old, a decade older than the other members of the team, then exited the consulate building four hours later by the back door with an alleged accomplice.

He was later captured on surveillance footage around the city wearing what appeared to be Khashoggi’s dark blazer, grey shirt opened at the collar, trousers and glasses. He also had a fake beard and, allegedly, his Apple watch.

The footage obtained by CNN showed him wearing the same pair of trainers with white soles that he first arrived in.

Madani was spotted by officials because he was wearing these same shoes before and afterwards, sources revealed.

A senior Turkish official said the video showed that Madani was brought to Istanbul to act as a body double.

He said: ‘You don’t need a body double for a rendition or an interrogation. This was a premeditated murder and the body was moved out of the consulate.’ He added: ‘Khashoggi’s clothes were probably still warm when Madani put them on.’

‘Clothes were probably still warm’

On the way in: Mustafa al-Madani enters the consulate in a checked shirt

Before the murder: Victim Mr Khashoggi

Later: Madani, now in Mr Khashoggi’s jacket

Job done: The Saudi then changed back into his own clothes

Disguise: Madani, circled, was also wearing a fake beard