LONDON — An investigation has been launched to determine whether the London police mishandled allegations of sexual misconduct involving Mohamed Al Fayed, the late proprietor of the luxurious Harrods department store.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) announced on Wednesday that it would supervise a detailed inquiry by the Metropolitan Police Directorate of Professional Standards. This inquiry aims to uncover whether there were any missed opportunities to hold the affluent businessman accountable.
Steve Noonan, the director of operations at the IOPC, emphasized the public’s considerable concern regarding this case, noting that numerous allegations had emerged over the years while Al Fayed was still living. “It’s important that an investigation is carried out into these complaints to identify if there were any missed opportunities or failures by officers to properly investigate these reports made back in 2008,” he stated.
Following a BBC report in September that highlighted claims from various former Harrods employees, law enforcement has been reassessing multiple accusations of rape and sexual assault attributed to Al Fayed, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 94. The Metropolitan Police is currently examining 21 allegations made before Al Fayed’s death, with over 100 women having come forward to report instances of sexual abuse by him.
Authorities and executives in charge of Harrods are facing scrutiny regarding their inaction during Al Fayed’s lifetime. In 2008, he was interrogated by police regarding the alleged sexual abuse of a 15-year-old girl, and investigators submitted evidence against him to prosecutors on two separate occasions. Despite this, he was never charged with any crime.
Originally from Egypt, Al Fayed moved to the United Kingdom during the 1960s and acquired the iconic Harrods store in the mid-1980s. His prominence increased as a public figure, particularly when he owned the Fulham soccer club and after the tragic death of his son Dodi alongside Princess Diana in a 1997 car accident in Paris.
In 2010, Al Fayed sold Harrods to a company operating under the auspices of the Qatari government, specifically the Qatar Investment Authority, which manages the nation’s sovereign wealth fund.