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At least five Mohamed Al Fayed abuse survivors confirmed as human-trafficking victims
The Guardian • • world
Key Points:
- At least five victims of former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed have been officially confirmed by the Home Office as victims of human trafficking, with survivors alleging that women were trafficked internationally and domestically to enable his abuses.
- The investigation, known as Operation Cornpoppy, is examining who facilitated Fayed's crimes, with four people questioned so far, 21 months after the probe began.
- Over 400 allegations of sexual misconduct against Fayed span from 1977 to 2014, including rape, trafficking, false imprisonment, and forced abortions; Fayed died in 2023 without facing charges.
- Survivors have criticized the Metropolitan Police's handling of the case, prompting an Independent Office for Police Conduct review of the force's actions between 2018 and 2024.
- Harrods has expressed support for survivors and is cooperating with the Metropolitan Police investigation into the allegations linked to Fayed.
