London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed Wednesday that it had opened a brand new investigation into sexual assault claims in opposition to the late Harrods proprietor Mohamed Al-Fayed, which has thus far recognized 90 victims.
It comes within the wake of a BBC documentary, aired in September, that detailed a number of claims of rape and sexual assault in opposition to the billionaire Egyptian businessman, who died in August final 12 months aged 94.
Greater than 400 ladies and witnesses have since come ahead alleging sexual misconduct in opposition to him, sparking scrutiny of how the London police drive dealt with complaints stretching again many years.
The Met mentioned “quite a few victims, some reporting a number of offences” had come ahead following a renewed public attraction. A devoted unit would “evaluation all experiences and pursue all affordable strains of enquiry”, it added.
The drive has beforehand mentioned it had recognized 60 potential victims.
Detectives are actually probing “plenty of people related to” Al-Fayed and “working to ascertain what roles these people could have performed in aiding and facilitating” any offences, it added.
Detectives are additionally reviewing all earlier investigations to determine any “missed alternatives”, the Met mentioned, noting that investigative strategies and practices had “progressed considerably over the past 20 years”.
They’ve already reviewed greater than 50,000 pages of proof, together with sufferer and affect statements, in response to the drive.
“This investigation is about giving survivors a voice, even supposing Mohamed Al-Fayed is now not alive to face prosecution,” mentioned Commander Stephen Clayman of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command.
“Nevertheless, we are actually pursuing any people suspected to have been complicit in his offending, and we’re dedicated to searching for justice.”
Clayman acknowledged that “previous occasions could have impacted the general public’s belief and confidence in our method”.
However he mentioned the drive was “decided to rebuild that belief by addressing these allegations with integrity and thoroughness”.
Earlier this month, the Met referred itself to the UK police watchdog following complaints from two ladies about its dealing with of investigations into Al-Fayed’s alleged sexual abuse.
Accusations have additionally emerged in latest weeks in opposition to his late brother Salah Fayed — who died in 2010 — throughout the interval when he collectively owned Harrods.
In the meantime, The New York Occasions this month printed the claims of a sufferer accusing one other brother, Ali, aged 80, of realizing concerning the “trafficking” of girls.
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