French Police Raid Ritz Paris Over Mohamed Al Fayed Sex‑Trafficking Probe
French police raided the Ritz Paris in a probe of alleged sex‑trafficking by deceased mogul Mohamed Al Fayed, leading to arrests and renewed scrutiny.
POLICY WIRE — Paris, France — French police conducted a high‑profile raid on the Ritz hotel in the French capital as part of a criminal investigation into alleged sexual trafficking linked to Mohamed Al Fayed.
The operation targeted the historic Ritz property alongside two additional sites, and authorities detained several individuals suspected of involvement in the alleged network.
Investigators say the probe focuses on an international scheme that allegedly moved women for the benefit of the late Egyptian‑born businessman, who owned the Ritz and the former Harrods department store.
Al Fayed, who died in 2023 at the age of 94, first faced public accusations in a 2024 BBC documentary that detailed claims of rape and sexual abuse.
French officials have not disclosed further details, but the arrests underscore a broader effort to dismantle transnational trafficking operations tied to high‑profile figures.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
