Police Scotland investigating 'further' allegations against Mohamed Al Fayed

The former Harrods owner, who died in August 2023 at the age of 94, is alleged to have sexually abused hundreds of women and girls, including at his Balnagown Estate in Easter Ross.

In 2024, Police Scotland said it had completed its inquiries into a report of a non-recent sexual assault at Balnagown Estate, which Al Fayed had purchased in 1972.

However, on Sunday a Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Further investigation is ongoing, It would be inappropriate to comment further.”

The Mail on Sunday reported that the force could not originally progress the case brought forward by Sophia Stone, now 58, because there was no evidence to corroborate her account. This relates to an alleged attempted rape at the estate in 1991.

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Ms Stone was a personal assistant to Al Fayed after joining Harrods at age 19, and her husband previously told the BBC she had been groomed, sexually assaulted and almost raped by Al Fayed.

He said there was “constant harassment and sexual assault”, both in the office and in other locations, including on private helicopters and planes.

It is understood a new witness has spoken to Police Scotland backing up Ms Stone’s account.

More than 400 allegations of sexual misconduct between 1977 and 2014 have been made against Al Fayed, including rape, sexual assault, human trafficking, false imprisonment, drugging, physical violence and forced abortions.

The Met Police is currently investigating 155 victims, including 21 who came forward before Al Fayed’s death.

A spokesman for the Met Police said the force is determined to “bring anyone who is suspected to have played a part in Mohamed Al Fayed’s offending to justice”.

Harrods previously said it was “utterly appalled” by the allegations and condemned Al Fayed’s actions “in the strongest terms”. The new owners have set up a compensation scheme for ex-employees who say they were attacked by Al-Fayed.