French police search Ritz and other properties in Al Fayed abuse probe

French authorities have conducted searches at three properties, including the famous Ritz hotel in central Paris, as part of an ongoing investigation into sexual abuse and human trafficking linked to the late billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed. The operation, which took place in mid-October 2026, also involved the Villa Sainte-Thérèse in Saint-Tropez and the Villa Windsor in western Paris. Several individuals were taken into custody for questioning during the initial phase of the inquiry and were subsequently released.

The Paris public prosecutor’s office stated that the searches were part of a preliminary investigation. The specific charges under review include allegations of human trafficking by an organised group, aggravated pimping by an organised group, and rape. Officers from the organised crime division of the Paris prosecutor’s office interviewed several of Fayed’s alleged victims as part of this process. Digital material seized during the raids is currently being analysed.

British investigators were present during the French searches, marking a coordinated effort between the two countries. In an email sent to survivors of Fayed’s alleged abuse, the Metropolitan police confirmed that its officers travelled to France last month and participated in the operation. A spokesperson for the Met confirmed the presence of British personnel during the mid-October searches.

The property in Saint-Tropez, known as Castel Sainte-Thérèse, is one of the most exclusive villas on the French Riviera. It holds historical significance as the location where Diana, Princess of Wales, stayed with her sons in the summer of 1997, shortly after beginning her relationship with Fayed’s son, Dodi. The other property searched in Paris, Villa Windsor, was a former holiday home for the Fayed family. Before that, the residence in the 16th arrondissement had been home to Charles de Gaulle before his presidency and to King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson after his abdication.

Campaign groups representing the alleged victims have urged the Metropolitan police to conduct similar searches at properties in Britain. Jen Mills and Lindsay Mason, co-chairs of the Justice for Fayed and Harrods Survivors group, stated that they want the same thoroughness applied to every location where survivors report being taken or abused. They emphasized that the searches in Paris and Saint-Tropez should be the beginning of the process, not the end.

Lindsay Mason and other advocates noted that the French authorities have placed the case in the hands of their specialist trafficking unit and organised crime prosecutors. They argued that the evidence was never confined to Harrods and that the Met had spent two years avoiding a classification as organised trafficking. The No One Above collective, a group of survivors, suggested that the National Crime Agency should now take over the investigation to match the approach taken by French authorities.

Pelham Spong, who claims she was trafficked in Paris in 2008 on Fayed’s orders before being sent to London, expressed joy at the recent police actions. She stated that survivors deserve actions rather than words. In November of last year, Spong told French investigators that Fayed had forcibly kissed her and offered her an annual salary of €65,000 if she slept with him.

Survivors’ groups report that more than 500 women have come forward regarding abuse that allegedly took place at Harrods, Park Lane, Fulham football club, the Ritz hotel, and other venues owned by Fayed. The Metropolitan police are currently investigating 169 victims who have contacted the force directly. The Ritz Paris told the news agency Agence France-Presse that it does not tolerate any form of harassment or inappropriate behaviour and is ready to cooperate fully with judicial authorities.

The investigation remains ongoing, with both French and British authorities continuing to gather evidence. The collaboration between the Paris prosecutor’s office and the Metropolitan police highlights the international scope of the allegations against the late hotelier and Harrods owner. As digital evidence is processed, the focus remains on establishing the extent of the alleged organised network involved in the trafficking and abuse.

The raids have brought renewed attention to the case of Mohamed Al Fayed, whose properties have been central to the allegations for years. The involvement of high-profile locations, such as the Ritz and villas on the French Riviera, underscores the personal nature of the investigation. Authorities are working to ensure that all relevant evidence is secured and examined as the legal proceedings move forward.