Key facts
- The Metropolitan Police have submitted a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) regarding sexual assault allegations against the late Mohamed Al Fayed.
- The file concerns one suspect, a man in his 80s, and relates to two alleged indecent assaults on two women in London.
- Seven suspects have been interviewed under caution as part of the investigation, known as Operation Cornpoppy.
- Allegations include aiding and abetting rape and sexual assault, assisting in the commission of sexual offences, and human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
- Over 400 allegations of sexual misconduct have been made against Al Fayed, spanning from 1977 to 2014.
- The CPS will now consider whether to bring charges against the suspect.
The Metropolitan Police have submitted a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) concerning a man in his 80s as part of its investigation into sexual assault claims against the late former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed. The CPS will now review the file to determine if charges can be brought.
Detectives stated that the file relates to one suspect and involves two alleged indecent assaults on two women in London. The investigation, known as Operation Cornpoppy, has so far seen seven suspects interviewed under caution. These individuals are suspected of offences including aiding and abetting rape and sexual assault, assisting in the commission of sexual offences, and human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation.
More than 400 allegations of sexual misconduct have been made against Al Fayed, with claims dating between 1977 and 2014. The police force has engaged with at least 156 alleged victims who contacted them directly, including 21 who came forward before Al Fayed died in 2023 at the age of 94 without facing any charges.
Survivor groups welcomed the development, with co-chairs of Justice for Fayed and Harrods Survivors calling the submission a significant step for the two women whose allegations are central to the case. Another survivor group, No One Above, urged the Met to confirm it is securing evidence on all perpetrators and co-conspirators involved in facilitating or enabling Al Fayed's alleged crimes.