Saudi man mistaken for Khashoggi suspect was on holiday in France

FILE PHOTO: The Committee to Protect Journalists and other press freedom activists hold a candlelight vigil in front of the Saudi Embassy to mark the anniversary of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul, in Washington, U.S., October 2, 2019. REUTERS/Sarah Silbiger/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) -The Saudi national arrested in Paris this week on suspicion of being involved in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was just a tourist who had been holidaying with a friend in France, an official familiar with the investigation said.

After his return to the kingdom, the man gave an interview to Saudi Arabia's Al Ekhbariya television aired on Thursday.