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Met Expands Al Fayed Inquiry, Questions Three Women on Suspected Trafficking and Enabling Rape

Survivors with their lawyers are pressing detectives to use a trafficking lens to pursue alleged enablers.

Overview

  • Detectives interviewed three women, aged in their 40s, 50s and 60s, under caution between 25 February and 5 March on suspicion of aiding and abetting rape and sexual assault, assisting sexual offences and human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
  • No arrests have been made, and the Metropolitan Police say the criminal investigation remains active as officers continue to gather evidence and speak to witnesses.
  • The force reports 154 complainants have come forward with allegations including rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation and human trafficking linked to Mohamed Al Fayed.
  • Police say 18 months of detailed victim and witness accounts, plus UK and overseas partnership work, led them to broaden the inquiry to cover trafficking offences.
  • Commander Angela Craggs said victims remain central to Operation Cornpoppy and vowed to pursue anyone suspected of facilitating offending, as lawyers from Leigh Day urge a wider scope and survivors seek engagement from national leaders.