Arrests made in Mohamed Al Fayed probe in France, police say

French police have made arrests after three properties, including the Ritz hotel in Paris, were searched in relation to an investigation into Mohamed Al Fayed's abuse.

In a confidential letter sent to survivors, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that on 13 and 14 October, French police searched three properties which resulted in a "number of arrests".

Met officers were present in what is understood to be a joint operation between British and French authorities.

It is the first time any arrests have been made in relation to alleged abuse and trafficking by the former Harrods and Ritz owner.

The Met shared this statement from French authorities with victims:

"At this stage of the proceedings, several victims have been interviewed by French investigators, and the investigations are being conducted in liaison with the British authorities.

"In this context, searches and evidence-gathering operations were carried out in mid-October 2026, notably within the Hotel Ritz in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, as well as at the Villa Sainte-Thérèse in Saint-Tropez, a former property of Mohamed Al Fayed, and at the Villa Windsor in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, in the presence of British investigators.

"Several suspects were taken into police custody, measures which were lifted following their interviews, specifically for the purpose of analyzing digital material seized during the search operations.

"The investigations are continuing under the direction of the Paris Public Prosecutor's Office."

A Met Police spokesperson confirmed its officers travelled to France in October and were present during the operation.

Al Fayed was accused by more than 20 women of sexual assault in a BBC documentary and podcast in September 2024.

One of the women featured in the documentary said she was sexually assaulted by Al Fayed at the Ritz hotel in Paris, while another woman said she had been raped by him at the Villa Windsor hotel in Paris.

Since those allegations, more than 400 alleged victims or witnesses have come forward to lawyers.

The Justice for Fayed and Harrods Survivors group said it welcomed the "significant developments" and cooperation between the Met and French authorities.

"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," the group said.

"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."

The survivor advocacy group No One Above said: "France is treating this as organised human trafficking, led by specialists, with properties searched and evidence seized. That is what a serious investigation into a network looks like.

"Two years on, survivors are still waiting for the same from the Met. It is time the National Crime Agency took this investigation over."