Theresa May has banned the Saudi execution squad that ‘murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi’ from entering the UK
Theresa May ordered the 21 members to be put on a watch list to ensure that they never enter Britain
THERESA May last night banned the Saudi execution squad who murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi from ever coming to Britain.
The PM ordered the Home Office to put all 21 members of the sinister outfit on a watch list.
And the six members of who currently have active UK visas have seen them ripped up - including its ringleader and Saudi Crown Prince’s bodyguard, Major General Maher Abdulaziz Mutrib.
The action came as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke about the 59 year-old Washington Post columnist’s horrific death for the first time.
The prince, who is suspected to have personally ordered the hit job in Turkey, vowed to punish all the “culprits”.
The kingdom’s under pressure ruler also dubbed it a “heinous crime that cannot be justified”, adding: “In the end justice will prevail”.
Revealing the fresh action to MPs yesterday, Mrs May stepped up the pressure on Riyadh by insisting there remains “an urgent need to establish what has happened”.
The PM added: “The claim that has been made that Mr Khashoggi died in a fight does not amount to a credible explanation.
“If these individuals currently have visas, those visas will be revoked today.”
Mrs May also tackled Saudi Arabia’s ageing monarch, King Salman, about the scandal in a phone call last night.
The SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford called for the UK to stop arms sales to Saudi Arabia following the death of Jamal Khashoggi.
He told Mrs May during PMQs: “Condemnation won’t do, it’s action that’s needed”.
Theresa May told Saudi King Salman last night that the kingdom’s explanation of Mr Khashoggi’s death “lacks credibility”.
Downing Street said the PM used a phone call to “reiterate the UK’s grave concerns”.
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A spokeswoman added: “The Prime Minister said the current explanation lacks credibility so there remains an urgent need to establish exactly what happened.
“She strongly urged Saudi Arabia to cooperate with the Turkish investigation and to be transparent about the results. It is important that the full facts are established.”
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