Metropolitan Police investigate additional individuals in Mohamed Al Fayed sexual offense inquiry

The Metropolitan Police has announced an investigation into over five individuals suspected of potentially aiding or facilitating Mohamed Al Fayed’s sexual offenses. This new inquiry was initiated by the force after 90 additional alleged victims emerged subsequent to a BBC documentary that exposed the scope of the billionaire’s predatory conduct. Prior to the documentary’s release, it had been disclosed that 21 alleged victims had already contacted the police force. Nevertheless, Al Fayed passed away last year without having faced any criminal charges. The period for these new allegations is believed to span from 1977 to 2014, with the youngest reported victim being 13 years old. Commander Steve Clayman of the Metropolitan Police stated that the investigation, named “Operation Cornpoppy,” will examine the part individuals “may have played in facilitating or enabling his offending, and what opportunities they had to protect victims from his horrendous abuse.” “I recognise the bravery of every victim-survivor who has come forward to share their experiences, often after years of silence,” he remarked. He continued, “This investigation is about giving survivors a voice, despite the fact that Mohamed Al Fayed is no longer alive to face prosecution.” “However, we are now pursuing any individuals suspected to have been complicit in his offending and we are committed to seeking justice,” he added. Clayman concluded, “We are aware that past events may have impacted the public’s trust and confidence in our approach, and we are determined to rebuild that trust by addressing these allegations with integrity and thoroughness.” Concurrently, the Metropolitan Police has initiated an internal review to scrutinize all prior investigations and pinpoint any overlooked opportunities. The force has already examined over 50,000 pages of evidence, encompassing victim and impact statements. Earlier in the current month, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) verified that it is reviewing two cases that the Metropolitan Police investigated in 2008 and 2013, following a self-referral by the force. The force indicated that it had received complaints from two women concerning earlier police investigations. These complaints “address concerns about the quality of police response and how details came to be disclosed publicly,” according to a statement from the Metropolitan Police. Gemma, a former Harrods employee who has alleged sexual assault and harassment by Fayed, previously informed the BBC that he “felt like such a powerful man with so much money.” She further stated that he had “so many professional people around him that were facilitating everything he did.” “It just felt like little old me from a small town outside of London is never going to stand a chance against him,” she concluded. Zoe Billingham, formerly HM’s Inspector of Constabulary, commented on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Thursday that it was “quite right that the Met should go back and look at its investigations and see if there’s new evidence for criminal prosecutions to be put forward.” She appended, “The broader question is could this now happen again. If women came forward today making allegations against rich and powerful men, would they be treated as they were in the past … and basically dismissed.” Al Fayed, who passed away at 94 years old, owned Harrods from 1985 to 2010. A spokesperson for the department store, responding to this recent investigation, stated their “wholeheartedly” support for it. They affirmed, “We have an open, direct and ongoing line of communication with the Met Police for the benefit of the survivors.” “We continue to encourage all survivors to engage with the Met Police and we welcome the investigation in supporting survivors in their wider pursuit of justice,” the spokesperson added. The store’s current owners had previously expressed being “appalled” by the sexual abuse allegations and have been conducting an inquiry since 2023 into whether any existing staff members were implicated. The retailer has refrained from providing any specifics regarding whether disciplinary action has been taken against any individual or when their review is expected to conclude. Beyond Harrods’ employees, Al Fayed is also alleged to have abused women at other enterprises he owned, such as the Ritz Paris hotel and Fulham FC. Earlier this month, BBC News disclosed that the Metropolitan Police had been informed of sexual assault allegations against Mohamed Al Fayed a decade prior to its previous acknowledgment. Individuals possessing information pertinent to this story are encouraged to make contact. Please email MAFinvestigation@bbc.co.uk and include a contact number if you are amenable to speaking with a BBC journalist. For those impacted by issues of sexual assault, the BBC Action Line is available for contact here. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available for review.