Met Police send CPS file on man in 80s in Al-Fayed investigation
The Met Police have sent a file to prosecutors about a man in his 80s linked to two indecent assaults as part of the Al-Fayed investigation.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The Metropolitan Police have submitted a full evidential file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) concerning a man in his 80s, as part of the ongoing investigation into allegations of sexual abuse against the late Mohamed Al-Fayed, the former owner of Harrods.
The file relates to two indecent assaults on two women in London. The CPS will now decide whether to charge the suspect. The Met confirmed the development in a statement sent to a survivors group, which was later verified by the force.
Detectives have been investigating a wide range of allegations against Al-Fayed, who died in 2023 aged 94 without ever facing charges. Police are currently looking into around 400 allegations of sexual misconduct against him, dating from 1977 to 2014, including rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
In addition to the file on the man in his 80s, the Met said seven people have been interviewed under caution. These include four women and three men, one of whom is understood to be the man in his 80s. They have been questioned about offences including aiding and abetting rape and sexual assault, assisting in the commission of sexual abuse, and human trafficking.
Survivor groups have responded with cautious hope. A statement from the Justice for Fayed and Harrods Survivors Group said: "We now hope that the CPS authorises a charge so that this case can finally be brought before a court and the individual responsible can be held to account. Survivors were denied that opportunity while Mohamed Al-Fayed was alive, and they should not be denied it again."
The investigation has been described by police as complex and sensitive. The latest development marks a significant step, though no charges have yet been brought. The CPS has not indicated a timescale for its decision.
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One | Sky News |
|---|---|---|
| A file sent to the CPS concerns a man in his 80s and is linked to two sexual assaults of two women in London. | ||
| Seven people have been interviewed under caution for offences including aiding and abetting rape, sexual assault, and human trafficking. | ||
| Police are investigating 400 allegations of sexual misconduct against Al-Fayed dating from 1977 to 2014. | · | |
| Survivor groups said the development shows that accountability is not beyond reach despite the passage of time. | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC ONE West focused on the significance of the development, highlighting the emotional response from survivors and the broader context of the investigation. It stressed that the police clearly believe there is enough evidence, and noted that the passage of time does not put accountability beyond reach.
- “The Met have confirmed that the file that they sent to prosecutors, as you say, relates to a man in his 80s and is linked to two sexual assaults of two women in London.”
- “The Met say they have interviewed seven people under caution, and they've been questioned about offences which include aiding and abetting rape and sexual assault, assisting in the commission of sexual abuse and human trafficking.”
Sky News provided more detail on the scale of the investigation, including the total number of allegations against Al-Fayed and the number of alleged victims. It read directly from the Met's statement and emphasised that the suspect has not been charged, while noting the frustration of survivors that Al-Fayed was never held to account while alive.
- “Met police detectives have submitted a full evidential file to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision. The file relates to one suspect, a man in his 80s, and relates to two indecent assaults on two women in London.”
- “Police say that the claims made against Al-Fayed are a complex, sensitive investigation and that seven people have now been questioned under caution. Four women and three men, one of whom we understand to be this man in his 80s.”
Broadcast Timeline
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