Police report arrests in France linked to Mohamed Al Fayed probe

Police in France announced that arrests have been carried out as part of the investigation into Mohamed Al Fayed, according to French authorities. The arrests follow a probe that began after the Egyptian businessman was accused of sexual offences in a high‑profile documentary and podcast aired in September 2024.

Al Fayed faced allegations from more than 20 women featured in the BBC documentary and podcast. One woman claimed she was sexually assaulted by him at the Ritz hotel in Paris, while another said she was raped at the Villa Windsor hotel, also in Paris. Since the programme aired, over 400 alleged victims or witnesses have approached lawyers for assistance.

The advocacy group Justice for Fayed and Harrods Survivors said it welcomed the “significant developments” and the cooperation between the Metropolitan Police and French authorities. The group added, "We believe that all properties owned by Fayed should be investigated with the same thoroughness as those already searched, wherever they are located, to ensure that no potentially relevant evidence is overlooked," and "We hope these developments represent meaningful progress towards identifying and holding to account all those who facilitated, concealed or assisted his offending, wherever they operated."

Survivor advocacy group No One Above commented that France is treating the case as organised human trafficking, with specialists leading property searches and evidence seizures. The group said, "Two years on, survivors are still waiting for the same from the Met. It is time the National Crime Agency took this investigation over."