French Police Raid Ritz Hotel in Mohamed Al Fayed Abuse Probe
Paris – French authorities have executed arrests following a coordinated raid on three properties connected to the late Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed, intensifying an inquiry into serious allegations of sexual abuse and human trafficking. The operation, which targeted sites in Paris and Saint-Tropez, marks a significant development in the probe led by the Paris public prosecutor’s office. According to official statements, the searches were conducted in mid-October 2026, involving digital evidence gathering that is currently under analysis.
The properties subjected to the raids included the prestigious Ritz hotel in the first arrondissement of Paris, Villa Sainte-Thérèse in Saint-Tropez, and Villa Windsor in the sixteenth arrondissement of the capital. The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that these actions were part of a preliminary investigation into allegations of human trafficking committed by an organized group, aggravated pimping by an organized group, and rape. British investigators from the Metropolitan police were present during the operations, underscoring the cross-border nature of the case.
Several individuals were taken into custody for questioning last month and subsequently released, according to the Paris public prosecutor’s office. Officers from the organized crime division also interviewed several alleged victims of Fayed. The Ritz Paris responded to the media inquiries by stating that it does not tolerate any form of harassment, abuse, or inappropriate behavior and expressed readiness to cooperate fully with competent judicial authorities.
Villa Sainte-Thérèse, one of the most exclusive villas on the French Riviera, holds historical significance as the location where Diana, Princess of Wales, stayed with her sons in the summer of 1997, coinciding with the start of her relationship with Dodi Fayed, the son of Mohamed Al Fayed. Villa Windsor, located in western Paris, was previously the family home of Charles de Gaulle before his presidency and later served as the residence of King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson after his abdication.
Campaign groups representing the alleged victims have called for greater thoroughness in the investigation. Jen Mills and Lindsay Mason, co-chairs of Justice for Fayed and Harrods Survivors, emphasized that searches must be applied to every property where survivors claim they were abused, including those in Britain. They argued that the searches in France should be the beginning, not the end, of the justice process. A spokesperson for No One Above, a collective of survivors, criticized the Metropolitan police for avoiding treating the case as organized trafficking by a network, urging the National Crime Agency to take over the investigation.
Pelham Spong, who alleges she was trafficked in Paris on Fayed’s orders in 2008 before being sent to London, expressed joy at the French police raids. She previously told French investigators that Fayed had forcibly kissed her and offered her a salary of €65,000 a year in exchange for sexual favors. Survivors’ groups state that more than 500 women have come forward regarding abuse allegedly occurring at Harrods, Park Lane, Fulham football club, the Ritz hotel in Paris, and other properties owned by Fayed. The Metropolitan police is currently investigating 169 victims who have contacted the force directly.
This report was produced in the Europe Brief News newsroom.
