French law enforcement officials have carried out arrests following raids on three locations, which included the Ritz hotel in Paris, as part of an ongoing inquiry into allegations of abuse involving Mohamed Al Fayed. Metropolitan Police stated in a confidential letter to survivors that French authorities conducted the searches on October 13 and 14, leading to multiple arrests.
Officers from the Met attended the operations during what is understood to be a collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies in Britain and France. These actions mark the initial arrests tied to accusations of abuse and trafficking directed at the deceased former proprietor of Harrods and the Ritz.
The Met relayed a communication from French officials to the survivors, stating that multiple victims have spoken with investigators in France while the probe proceeds in coordination with British counterparts. The statement detailed that searches and evidence collection took place in mid-October 2026 at the Hotel Ritz located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, the Villa Sainte-Thérèse in Saint-Tropez previously owned by Al Fayed, and the Villa Windsor situated in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, all in the presence of British investigators. Several individuals were detained for questioning before being released to allow authorities to examine digital devices collected during the raids, with inquiries proceeding under the supervision of the Paris Public Prosecutor's Office.
A representative for the Met Police verified that department personnel traveled to France in October to observe the operations. Mohamed Al Fayed faced accusations of sexual assault from over 20 women in a BBC documentary and podcast broadcast in September 2024.
Among the women appearing in the investigative program, one reported experiencing sexual assault by Al Fayed at the Ritz hotel in Paris, while another stated she suffered rape by him at the Villa Windsor in Paris. Following the broadcast of these claims, more than 400 potential victims or witnesses have contacted legal representatives.
The organization Justice for Fayed and Harrods Survivors expressed approval regarding these important advancements and the partnership between the Met and French law enforcement. The group stated that all properties previously owned by Al Fayed require investigation with equal diligence to guarantee that no relevant evidence is missed, and expressed hope that the actions bring meaningful advancement toward identifying and prosecuting any individuals who enabled, hid, or aided his misconduct.
Another survivor advocacy organization, No One Above, remarked that France is handling the matter as organized human trafficking directed by experts, involving executed searches and confiscated evidence. The group asserted that survivors have waited two years for a similar approach from the Met and called for the National Crime Agency to assume control of the investigation.