Mohamed Al Fayed: Three women interviewed by police on suspicion of sex trafficking

The Metropolitan Police have disclosed that three women have been questioned under caution in connection to an investigation involving the late Mohamed Al Fayed, former owner of Harrods. These interviews, conducted between February 25 and March 5, relate to accusations including human trafficking and facilitating rape. The women, aged in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, are suspected of being involved in aiding and abetting sexual offences as well as human trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Representatives from Leigh Day, a law firm acting for several survivors, expressed cautious optimism about the investigation’s expansion, but raised concerns regarding the limited number of suspects interviewed so far. Emma Jones, a partner at Leigh Day, remarked on the unexpected fact that all of the interviewees were female, given the information shared by their clients and other publicly available details. The firm hopes this development signals a broader sweep of individuals under police scrutiny.

The inquiry into Mohamed Al Fayed’s alleged offences has intensified amid calls for it to be expanded further to cover potential trafficking activities. Al Fayed, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 94, was a prominent figure who owned the luxury department store Harrods, the Ritz Paris hotel, and Fulham Football Club during many of the alleged incidents. The police confirmed that no arrests have been made so far, but the investigation is ongoing with a focus on those suspected of enabling Al Fayed’s actions, which reportedly include more than 400 instances of sexual misconduct spanning from 1977 to 2014.

Metropolitan Police Commander Angela Craggs emphasized that despite Al Fayed’s death, the investigation remains determined to hold anyone involved in his crimes accountable. With 154 victims having come forward reporting allegations ranging from sexual assault to human trafficking, the inquiry now covers a wider scope than before. Phil Brewer, former head of the Met’s anti-trafficking unit, also voiced his support for broadening the investigation to explicitly include trafficking offences, describing such a move as a logical expansion of the investigative approach. Meanwhile, Harrods has issued an unreserved apology to survivors and has implemented a compensation scheme for those affected, with an independent external review into employee knowledge of the abuse nearing completion

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