Mohamed Al Fayed may have raped, abused 111 women, according to police

The scale of Mohamed Al Fayed’s alleged abuse against some 111 women could make him one of Britain’s most prolific sex offenders, police said.

Mohamed Al Fayed may have raped and abused more than 111 women over nearly 40 years, police have revealed, with one of his alleged victims just 13 years old.

London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed on Wednesday local time it had opened a new investigation into the sexual assault claims against the late Egyptian billionaire, who died last August aged 94.

Some 90 alleged victims have been identified so far, on top of 21 accusors who reported crimes to the police between 2005 and Mr Al Fayed’s death.

It comes in the wake of a BBC documentary that detailed several claims of rape and sexual assault against the former Harrods owner, and allegedly took place not just at the department store, but in other entities linked to his business empire between 1977 and 2014.

If proven, the scale of Mr Al Fayed’s abuse would make him one of Britain’s most notorious sex offenders.

Mohamed Al Fayed may have raped and abused more than 111 women over nearly 40 years.

Since the documentary aired in September, more than 400 women and witnesses have come forward alleging sexual misconduct against him, sparking scrutiny of how the Met handled complaints stretching back decades.

Lawyer Bruce Drummond told reporters earlier this month that most alleged victims and witnesses were from the UK, but people were contacting them “from all around the world”, including Australia.

“Every young lady in his orbit was a target,” Mr Drummond said.

Harrods has said that it has been contacted by more than 250 people seeking to negotiate an out-of-court settlement.

Earlier this month, the Met referred itself to UK police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, following complaints from two women about its handling of investigations conducted in 2008 into Mr Al-Fayed’s alleged sexual abuse.

According to The Guardian, the Met could find out as early as next week as to whether it will face a separate investigation into it bungled the claims.

“While these cases date back over a decade and we cannot change what happened in the past, we are committed to understanding, being open about any shortcomings and improving our response survivors moving forward,” a Met spokesperson told the publication.

More than 400 women and witnesses have come forward with allegations against Al Fayed since a BBC documentary aired in September. Picture: Ian Walton/Getty Images

Stephen Clayman, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, acknowledged that trust in the police may have been eroded by its past conduct, but urged any other victims to come forward.

“I recognise the bravery of every victim-survivor who has come forward to share their experiences, often after years of silence,” Commander Clayman said.

“This investigation is about giving survivors a voice, despite the fact that Mohamed Al Fayed is no longer alive to face prosecution.

“We are aware that past events may have impacted the public’s trust and confidence in our approach, and we are determined to rebuild that trust by addressing these allegations with integrity and thoroughness.

“We encourage anyone who has information or was affected by Al Fayed’s actions to reach out to us. Your voice matters, and we are here to listen and to help.”

Mr Al Fayed with Princess Diana. Picture: Antony Jones/UK Press via Getty Images

Mr Al Fayed formerly owned luxury department store Harrods. Picture: AFP/Carl Court

Mr Al Fayed was a household name in the UK, in part due to his links to the late Princess Diana, who was romantically linked to his son Dodi. Both were killed in a 1997 car crash in Paris.

The Met said “numerous victims, some reporting multiple offences” had come forward following a renewed public appeal. A dedicated unit would “review all reports and pursue all reasonable lines of inquiry”, it added.

Detectives are also now probing “a number of individuals associated with” Mr Al Fayed, and “working to establish what roles those individuals may have played in assisting and facilitating” any offences.

“We are now pursuing any individuals suspected to have been complicit in his offending, and we are committed to seeking justice,” Cmdr Clayman said.

The force said it had already reviewed more than 50,000 pages of evidence, including victim and impact statements.