Police have interviewed a fourth suspect as a part of their sexual abuse probe into former Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed.Â
The suspect, aged in his 60s, was questioned beneath warning on suspicion of aiding and abetting rape and human trafficking, the Metropolitan Police stated.
A number of ladies have accused Al Fayed, who owned Harrods, the Ritz Paris Resort and Fulham FC, of rape and sexual assault between 1985 and 2020.
The Met launched a legal probe into the Egyptian businessman in November 2024, simply over a 12 months after his loss of life aged 94.
Police say 154 victims have since come ahead and reported allegations of sexual assault, rape, sexual exploitation and human trafficking.Â
The interview follows that of three ladies who had been quizzed by detectives, additionally on suspicion of aiding and abetting rape and sexual assault, helping the fee of sexual offences and human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
Police stated no arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.
The Met beforehand stated it was investigating people surrounding the businessman who may have enabled him to hold out greater than 400 sexual misconduct crimes, that are claimed to have spanned a long time between 1977 and 2014.Â
Former Harrods chairman Mohamed Al Fayed (pictured) unveils a memorial to his son Dodi and Britain’s Diana Princess of Wales at Harrods in London
Pictured: Harrods in Knightsbridge, London, which Mohamed Al Fayed as soon as owned
Earlier than Al Fayed’s loss of life, police had been already conscious of allegations made by 21 ladies between 2005 and 2023, together with 4 claims of rape, 16 sexual assaults and one associated to trafficking.
He was arrested in 2013 over a rape allegation, however the billionaire tycoon was not charged with any offence.
Investigators twice despatched recordsdata for a charging choice to the Crown Prosecution Service – as soon as in 2008 relating to a few victims and once more in 2015 linked to 1 different.
On one other three events – in 2018, 2021 and 2023 – the CPS was requested for what known as early investigative recommendation, however the issues weren’t pursued additional by police.
4 suspects have now been interviewed beneath warning as a part of the Met’s investigation into Al Fayed.Â
Commander Angela Craggs of the Metropolitan Police stated: ‘Victims stay on the centre of this investigation. In the present day’s replace marks an necessary step in a posh and much reaching investigation.
‘Whereas Al Fayed is now not alive to face prosecution, now we have all the time been decided to carry anybody who’s suspected to have performed a component in his offending to justice.
‘We encourage anybody with data, whether or not you had been instantly affected by Mohamed Al Fayed actions or have considerations about others who might have been concerned or dedicated offences, to contact us. Info can be shared anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or by their on-line kind.
‘We are going to share additional updates once we are ready to take action and solely when this is not going to danger jeopardising legal or different proceedings.’
