France imposes sanctions on 18 Saudi citizens over Khashoggi killing

France said on Thursday it had imposed sanctions, including travel bans, on 18 Saudi citizens linked to the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and said more could follow depending on results of an investigation, The Globe and Mail reported.

The foreign ministry did not name the individuals but said in a statement that the move was in coordination with European partners, notably Germany. Berlin on Monday also banned 18 Saudis and moved to halt all arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

The bans bind all members of the European Union’s passport-free Schengen zone, it said.

“The murder of Mr Khashoggi is a crime of extreme gravity, which moreover goes against freedom of the press and the most fundamental rights,” the ministry statement said.

France expected a transparent, detailed and exhaustive response from Saudi authorities, it said.

“These are interim measures that may be reviewed or extended depending on the progress of ongoing investigations,” it said.