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French investigators have interviewed several alleged victims connected to Mohamed Al Fayed as part of an ongoing preliminary inquiry. According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, the investigation focuses on accusations including human trafficking committed by an organized group, aggravated pimping by an organized group, and rape. The inquiry remains active, with digital evidence seized during search operations currently under analysis.
The searches conducted in mid-October 2026 targeted several properties linked to the Al Fayed family. These included the Hotel Ritz in Paris’s 1st arrondissement, Villa Sainte-Thérèse in Saint-Tropez, and Villa Windsor in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. Villa Windsor, historically known as the post-abdication residence of King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, has served as a holiday home for the family. British investigators were present during these operations, reflecting ongoing collaboration between French and UK authorities. Several suspects who were taken into custody have since been released after interviews, with the investigation continuing under the supervision of the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that UK officers traveled to France and participated in the searches.
Mohamed Al Fayed, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 94, was accused by over twenty women of sexual assault in a BBC documentary and podcast released in September 2024. One woman recounted being assaulted by Al Fayed at the Ritz Paris, while another alleged she was raped at the Villa Windsor residence. Since these revelations, lawyers have reported more than 400 alleged victims or witnesses coming forward with information. Additionally, a woman told BBC Scotland that she was trafficked, drugged, sexually assaulted, and held captive on the Balnagown Estate by Salah Fayed, Mohamed’s brother, who died in 2010. Neither brother faced legal charges related to these accusations before their deaths.
Further investigations persist, particularly concerning the Balnagown Estate, with Police Scotland identifying three individuals linked to offenses against multiple victims. The inquiry is ongoing, and authorities have refrained from providing additional details. Survivor advocacy groups, including Justice for Fayed and Harrods Survivors and No One Above, have praised the recent progress and international cooperation. They have urged for equal scrutiny of all Al Fayed-owned properties and have called on UK authorities to strengthen their investigations, emphasizing the importance of holding accountable all those involved in facilitating or concealing these crimes. Meanwhile, the management of the Ritz Paris has publicly stated its zero tolerance for harassment or abuse and pledged full cooperation with judicial authorities
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