Ex-Saudi Royal Guard member arrested in connection to the murder of Washington Post journalist

A former member of the Saudi Arabia Royal Guard suspected of killing a Saudi journalist was arrested as he boarded an airplane in France, according to a report.

Khaled Aedh Al-Otaibi was arrested on Dec. 7 by French authorities, RTL radio in France reported citing police and judicial sources.

Al-Otaibi was arrested on a warrant in connection to the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. In 2018, Khashoggi was killed at the Saudi consulate in Turkey. Khashoggi worked for the Washington Post.

Al-Otaibi was wanted by Interpol on an arrest warrant out of Turkey, RTL reported. He was arrested at Charles-deGaulle airport as he was about to leave for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, according to the report. He had his passport and was traveling under his real name.

RTL reported that 20 Saudis are wanted in connection to the killing.

Many believe Khashoggi’s killing was ordered by the Saudi government. While officials admitted he was murdered, the government has described it as a “rogue operation.” They also claimed it was a fistfight and not an execution.