Survivors of abuse by former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed are calling for a full trafficking investigation, arguing that without it the 'true scale' of the billionaire's alleged network would remain hidden. The group No One Above (NOA), founded by victims, urges the Metropolitan Police to broaden their probe and focus on trafficking.
More than 400 allegations of sexual misconduct have been made against Fayed for the period between 1977 and 2014, including rape, sexual assault, human trafficking, false imprisonment, drugging, physical violence, and forced abortions. Fayed died in 2023 aged 94 without facing charges.
Lawyers for the Justice for Fayed and Harrods Survivors group said 421 people have come forward about abuse at Harrods, the Ritz hotel in Paris, Fulham FC, and other properties. The Met is investigating 155 victims, 21 of whom came forward before Fayed's death. NOA argues the Met should prioritize trafficking to uncover the wider international network of enablers.
The group has urged the National Crime Agency to set up a joint investigation team (JIT) to work with the Met and enable international cooperation. In May, MPs raised concerns about police handling of previous and current allegations.
Justine, a pseudonym, worked at Harrods in the 1990s and described being trafficked and abused. She said Fayed's modus operandi involved walking the shop floor with security teams, spotting women he found attractive, and then inviting them to his offices. She said women were threatened with harm or ruin to stay silent.
Justine urged that Fayed's crimes be viewed as a trafficking operation with many helpers, including security, HR, bank staff, and private airport workers. Without a trafficking investigation and JIT, she said the true scale of the network won't be seen.
The Met said it has interviewed four suspects under caution in the 18 months since its investigation began. Justine said she reported her experience in 2018 but received no follow-up. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating how allegations were handled, with one serving and four former officers under investigation.
A Met spokesperson said specialist detectives are leading one of the force's largest and most complex investigations, taking detailed accounts from victims to build a comprehensive picture.
