At least five victims of the late former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed have been confirmed by the Home Office as victims of human trafficking, according to the Guardian.
Key facts
- At least five survivors of abuse by Mohamed Al Fayed have been confirmed by the Home Office as human-trafficking victims.
- A group of survivors called for the Metropolitan police to make trafficking the main focus of its investigation.
- Survivors argue Fayed could not have committed his offences without associates supplying a steady stream of women.
- Mohamed Al Fayed, the former owner of Harrods, is deceased.
At least five victims of the former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed have been confirmed by the Home Office as victims of human trafficking, according to the Guardian.
The decision follows calls from a group of survivors of abuse by the deceased businessman, who urged the Metropolitan police to make human trafficking the main focus of its investigation.
The survivors argued that Fayed could not have committed his offences without a steady stream of women sent to him by associates, the Guardian reported.
The claim points to the possibility that others helped facilitate the abuse, a question the survivors have pressed authorities to examine closely.
Mohamed Al Fayed, who previously owned the London department store Harrods, is deceased, and the Home Office confirmation of trafficking victims marks a formal recognition of the nature of the harm suffered by those affected.
Why it matters
The Home Office's confirmation formally recognises these survivors as victims of human trafficking, which can affect the support and legal protections available to them. It also raises questions about whether associates helped facilitate the alleged crimes, potentially widening the scope of the ongoing investigation.
Frequently asked questions
How many survivors have been confirmed as trafficking victims?
At least five victims of Mohamed Al Fayed have been confirmed by the Home Office as victims of human trafficking, according to the Guardian.
What have the survivors asked the police to do?
A group of survivors called for the Metropolitan police to make human trafficking the main focus of its investigation, arguing that Fayed could not have committed his offences without associates supplying women.
Who was Mohamed Al Fayed?
Mohamed Al Fayed was the former owner of the London department store Harrods. He is deceased.