Washington: Shortly after journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed last month at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, a member of the kill team told a superior over the phone to "tell your boss," the operatives had carried out their mission, according to three people familiar with a recording of Khashoggi's killing collected by Turkish intelligence.

The recording, shared last month with CIA Director Gina Haspel, is seen by intelligence officials as some of the strongest evidence linking Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the killing of Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist whose death prompted an international outcry.

Implicated: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Credit:AP

While he was not mentioned by name, US intelligence officials believe "your boss" was a reference to Crown Prince Mohammed. Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb, one of 15 Saudis dispatched to Istanbul to confront Khashoggi, made the phone call and spoke in Arabic, the people said.

Turkish intelligence officers have told US officials they believe that Mutreb, a security officer who frequently travelled with Crown Prince Mohammed, was speaking to one of the crown prince's aides. While translations of the Arabic may differ, the people briefed on the call said Mutreb also said to the aide words to the effect of "the deed was done."