Jamal Khashoggi: Suspect linked to killing of Saudi journalist arrested in France

Jamal Khashoggi was a Saudi-born US resident and a reporter who was murdered and dismembered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul three years ago by a team of men linked to the crown prince.

A suspect linked to the killing in Turkey of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has been arrested in France, two officials close to the investigation have told NBC News.

The man was detained at the Charles de Gaulle airport near Paris as he was about to board a flight to the Saudi capital Riyadh, NBC News also said.

A French police source also told Reuters that extradition proceedings to Turkey were set to begin.

The arrest came just days after French President Emmanuel Macron held face-to-face talks in Saudi Arabia with de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, becoming the first major Western leader to visit the kingdom since Mr Khashoggi's murder.

Who was Jamal Khashoggi?

He was murdered and dismembered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul three years ago by a team of men linked to the crown prince.

His body has never been found.

An intelligence report, contributed to mostly by the CIA, found that bin Salman is likely to have approved an operation to kill or capture the journalist but the crown prince has denied any involvement.

Eight were sentenced to jail over Mr Khashoggi's killing

Saudi Arabia has previously said Mr Khashoggi was killed in a rogue operation by a rendition squad.

Five people were sentenced to death after a secret trial, according to the country's public prosecutor.