Saudi Arabia's crown prince reportedly told a senior aide he would go after journalist Jamal Khashoggi with "a bullet" if he did not return home and stop criticising the government.

Mohammed bin Salman's 2017 comments were intercepted by American intelligence agencies, The New York Times reported.

The paper said intelligence analysts believe the remark shows the crown prince's intent to have the Saudi journalist killed, although he may not have necessarily planned to have him shot.

Image: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman denies involvement in Mr Khashoggi's murder

The report by the newspaper comes a day ahead of a congressional deadline for the White House to submit a report on whether the crown prince ordered the 59-year-old's murder and if it intends to impose sanctions on the de facto ruler.

Mr Khashoggi, a staunch critic of the crown prince, was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October last year.


He had gone there to get papers he needed to marry his fiancee, Turkish national Hatice Cengiz.

Image: The journalist appeared relaxed when he walked into the consulate on 2 October

Turkey's intelligence agency believes the crown prince planned an operation to kill the writer and have his body dismembered at the premises.

The kingdom initially denied Mr Khashoggi was murdered but - under increasing international condemnation - later changed its story and admitted the 59-year-old was killed as part of a "rogue operation" and said the prince had nothing to do with it.

A UN inquiry by its special rapporteur Agnes Callamard into the killing of the Washington Post columnist found the "brutal and premeditated" murder of Mr Khashoggi was "planned and perpetrated" by Saudi officials.

Ms Cengiz, who raised the alarm when her fiance failed to emerge from the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, said on Friday that she hoped the writer's killers would be brought to justice.

She told a news conference to mark the release of her book about the journalist: "President Trump invited me to the US previously. I might visit the United States in March. I would like to say that I would gladly meet with him if he has a new approach or a new stance on following this issue closely "

Image: Jamal Khashoggi's fiancee Hatice Cengiz

Asked by Sky News about the UN's findings, she said she spoke to Ms Callamard "at length" during her inquiry and that she found her to be "really sincere".

"I'm aware, as much as anyone, of the UN's power of sanctions," she said.

The US has imposed sanctions on 17 Saudi officials for their role in the journalist's death, however, US President Donald Trump has said he stands by the crown prince.