The Metropolitan police have apologised for accidentally exposing the email addresses of more than 140 victims of Mohamed Al Fayed. In a group update about its investigation into the former Harrods owner, the force copied the email addresses of 143 victims of Fayed in a message that included about 12 other recipients, the Telegraph reported. The force said it understood the “impact this may have on victims” and blamed “human error” for the incident.
It has referred itself to the information commissioner. The Met said the update was informing victims who had signed up to its email distribution list that three more suspects, one in their 70s and two in their 80s, had been interviewed under caution. In total, seven people have been interviewed under caution.
A Met spokesperson told the Telegraph: “On Tuesday, 11 August, officers issued a monthly update to victims regarding progress in our investigation into those who may have facilitated Mohamed Fayed’s offending. The issue was identified quickly and immediate action was taken. Everyone affected was contacted directly on the day of the incident.” They said the incident was being investigated as a matter of “priority”, and that the force was reviewing its processes in order to help prevent a similar breach from happening again.
More than 400 allegations of sexual misconduct have been made against Fayed for the period between 1977 and 2014, including claims of rape, sexual assault, human trafficking, false imprisonment, drugging, physical violence and forced abortions. The Egyptian businessman died in 2023 aged 94, without facing any charges. The Met’s approach to the case has been criticised by Fayed’s victims.
In June, three survivors complained to the Independent Office for Police Conduct about the force’s handling of allegations between 2018 and 2024. That same month, the Met sent the handwritten accounts of survivor Joanna Brittan to another victim in Australia. In May, the IOPC launched an investigation into a serving Met officer and four former officers over their handling of allegations against the late businessman.
The Met is investigating allegations made by at least 155 victims, at least 21 of whom are understood to have come forward before Fayed’s death. Operation Cornpoppy, launched 21 months ago, is looking at potential suspects who may have facilitated or enabled Fayed’s crimes. As of last week it had interviewed just four people under caution.
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