According to London police, they are currently investigating associates suspected of ‘assisting and facilitating’ sexual abuse.
British authorities have announced an investigation into associates of the late Harrods owner, Mohamed al-Fayed, on suspicion of aiding and facilitating his alleged sexual misconduct towards female employees.
The Metropolitan Police Service in London revealed that they initiated the inquiry following a public appeal and recent media coverage which resulted in 90 individuals coming forward with claims against al-Fayed, who controlled Harrods from 1985 to 2010.
The police force mentioned that they are also revisiting previous investigations into al-Fayed’s conduct.
According to the Justice for Harrods Survivors group, more than 400 purported victims or witnesses have come forward with allegations against al-Fayed, who passed away at the age of 94 last year.
While alive, al-Fayed denied any accusations of sexual assault despite a BBC documentary in September highlighting abuse claims from 20 women.
Police acknowledged receiving complaints from 21 women before al-Fayed’s death, who had various business interests including the Hôtel Ritz Paris and Fulham Football Club.
Commander Stephen Clayman of the Specialist Crime Command emphasized the importance of providing survivors a platform to speak out, even though al-Fayed cannot be prosecuted.
Clayman reaffirmed the commitment to pursuing individuals believed to have been involved in al-Fayed’s misconduct to achieve justice.
The force aims to rebuild public trust following previous incidents that impacted confidence in their operations.
Individuals with information or who were affected by al-Fayed’s actions are encouraged to come forward for support and assistance, as stated by Clayman.
Recently, the Metropolitan Police referred themselves to the independent police watchdog following complaints from two alleged victims about previous investigations into al-Fayed in 2008 and 2013.
