London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed on Wednesday that it has launched a new investigation into sexual assault allegations against the late Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed, who was the owner of Harrods. The inquiry has so far identified 90 victims, according to a report by news agency AFP. This investigation follows a BBC documentary aired in September that revealed multiple claims of rape and sexual assault against Al-Fayed, who passed away in August last year at the age of 94. Since the documentary’s release, over 400 women and witnesses have come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct, prompting scrutiny over how police have handled complaints over several decades.
The Metropolitan Police stated that “numerous victims, some reporting multiple offences,” have come forward following a public appeal. They announced that a dedicated unit would “review all reports and pursue all reasonable lines of enquiry.”
Additionally, The Guardian reported that five unnamed individuals suspected of assisting Al-Fayed are being investigated as potential “facilitators.” Scotland Yard has also initiated a large-scale review to determine whether previous investigations overlooked key opportunities and whether there is evidence to hold any current or former police officers accountable for corruption.
Last month, The Guardian highlighted claims that corrupt officers may have aided Al-Fayed in targeting staff members, including a young woman who allegedly rejected his sexual advances.
The investigation now encompasses 111 alleged abuse cases, with 21 victims reporting crimes to the police between 2005 and Al-Fayed’s death, and 90 women coming forward after the BBC documentary aired. Initially, the police had identified 60 potential victims.
Detectives are looking into “several individuals associated with” Al-Fayed to ascertain their roles in facilitating or assisting the alleged offenses. They are also reviewing past investigations to identify any “missed opportunities,” noting that investigative practices have “progressed significantly over the last 20 years.” To date, the police have examined more than 50,000 pages of evidence, including victim and impact statements.
“This investigation aims to give survivors a voice, despite the fact that Mohamed Al-Fayed is no longer alive to face prosecution,” stated Commander Stephen Clayman of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command. “We are now pursuing any individuals suspected of complicity in his offences and are committed to seeking justice.”
Clayman acknowledged that “past events may have impacted the public’s trust and confidence in our approach,” but he emphasized that the police are “determined to rebuild that trust by addressing these allegations with integrity and thoroughness.”
The alleged crimes attributed to Mohamed Al-Fayed span from 1977 to 2014. The Metropolitan Police have already reviewed over 50,000 pages of evidence, including victim and impact statements, and have retrieved “significant amounts of material” from archived investigations, as reported by The Guardian.
As part of the inquiry, detectives from the Directorate of Professional Standards are investigating whether any current or former police officers were involved in misconduct. They are also reviewing a witness statement from Bob Loftus, a former security director at Harrods, who alleged that one ex-Met commander received luxury hampers “whenever he had been a particularly great help to Harrods.”
Earlier this month, the Met referred itself to the UK police watchdog following complaints from two women regarding its handling of investigations into Al-Fayed’s alleged sexual abuse.
In recent weeks, new allegations have emerged against Al-Fayed’s late brother, Salah Fayed, who died in 2010 and co-owned Harrods at the time of the alleged abuse. Additionally, The New York Times reported this month that a victim has accused another brother, Ali, now 80, of being aware of the “trafficking” of women.
