French Police Search Al Fayed Properties and Arrest Suspects in Abuse Inquiry

French law enforcement authorities, acting alongside officers from the British Metropolitan Police, conducted searches at three French properties formerly linked to Mohamed Al Fayed and detained several suspects in mid-October 2026. The raids represent the first arrests made in connection with allegations of sexual abuse and human trafficking involving the late businessman, who previously owned Harrods and the Paris Ritz.

According to a letter sent by the Metropolitan Police to survivors, the searches took place on 13 and 14 October across three locations. Officers searched the Hotel Ritz in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, the Villa Windsor in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, and the Villa Sainte-Thérèse in Saint-Tropez, a former property of Al Fayed.

In a statement provided to victims, French authorities reported that investigators had interviewed several victims prior to executing the search warrants. Several suspects were taken into police custody, measures which were lifted following their interviews, specifically for the purpose of analyzing digital material seized during the search operations, the statement explained. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that its officers were present on-site during the joint operation in France.

The police action comes after broad public allegations of misconduct emerged against Al Fayed in September 2024, when a BBC broadcast detailed accounts from more than 20 women accusing him of sexual assault. Specific claims in the broadcast included sexual assault at the Ritz hotel in Paris and rape at the Villa Windsor. Legal representatives reported that more than 400 alleged victims and witnesses have come forward since those initial public disclosures.

The advocacy group Justice for Fayed and Harrods Survivors welcomed the joint operation between the French and British forces. The group stated that all properties previously owned by Al Fayed should be subjected to detailed searches regardless of location to ensure evidence is preserved. Separately, the survivor group No One Above stated that French authorities were investigating the allegations as organised human trafficking led by specialists, calling for the UK National Crime Agency to assume control of the British probe. The Paris Public Prosecutor's Office confirmed that evidence analysis and inquiries are continuing.

Written by Martina Kirchner martina.kirchner@alpineweekly.com