The hotel that Princess Diana left moments before she died has been searched over allegations of human trafficking and rape by the late tycoon Mohamed Al Fayed.
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she → leave → tycoon
The Ritz Paris was among three properties searched by French authorities last month.
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Paris → search → authorities
British investigators joined French forces for the raids and a number of arrests were made.
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number → join → arrests
The former Harrods London and Fulham Football Club owner died in 2023, aged 94.
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owner → die → 2023
Since his death, hundreds of women and girls have alleged that they were sexually abused by him and Salah Al Fayed, who died in 2010.
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who → allege → 2010
Claims first emerged against Al Fayed in a 2024 BBC documentary that included allegations of rape and sexual abuse.
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that → emerge → rape
French prosecutors have begun a preliminary investigation into suspected 'charges of human trafficking committed in an organised gang, aggravated pimping committed in an organised gang and rape' allegedly linked to the tycoon.
Investigators also searched the bolthole used by King Edward VIII after he abdicated.
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he → begin → VIII
Homes owned by former Harrods London and Fulham Football Club owner Mohamed Al Fayed have been raided by French authorities
CCTV footage of Princess Diana at the Ritz hotel in Paris just moments before her death in 1997
For 30 years, the ex-King and his wife Wallis Simpson lived at Villa Windsor in Paris, waiting in vain for the call to return to the land he once ruled.
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he → own → land
The property was taken over by Al Fayed following their deaths, as he built his business and property empire.
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he → take → empire
This included the Paris Ritz Hotel, where in 1997 Princess Diana stepped out of the doors and into the car belonging to Al Fayed's son Dodi to travel the short distance across the French capital to his apartment on the Champs-Elysees.
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Diana → include → Elysees
Moments later Dodi's driver, Henri Paul, lost control of the car and smashed into a pillar, causing one of the most shocking royal tragedies in history.
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driver → lose → history
The third property searched was the Villa Sainte-Thérèse in Saint-Tropez, the lavish love nest on the French Riviera where Dodi Al Fayed wooed Diana on her final holiday.
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Fayed → search → holiday
A statement from the prosecutors' office said: 'At this stage of the procedure, several victims have been interviewed by French investigators and the investigations are taking place in conjunction with the British authorities.
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investigations → say → authorities
In this context, searches and findings were carried out in mid-October 2026, in particular in the Ritz hotel in the first arrondissement of Paris, as well as at the Villa Sainte-Thérèse in Saint-Tropez, former property of Mohamed Al Fayed, and at the Villa Windsor in Paris 16th, in the presence of British investigators.'
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searches → carry → investigators
Several defendants were placed in police custody and digital equipment was seized during the searches.
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equipment → place → searches
Investigations are continuing under the direction of the Paris prosecutor's office.
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Investigations → continue → office
For 30 years, ex-King Edward and his wife Wallis Simpson lived at Villa Windsor in Paris
Castle St Therese, Parc de St Tropez, the lavish love nest on the French Riviera where Dodi Al Fayed wooed Diana on her final holiday
Campaigners have called for UK police investigating claims against Al Fayed to carry out their own searches.
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police → live → searches
Co-chairs of the group Jen Mills and Lindsay Mason, both former personal assistants to Mohamed Al Fayed, said: 'We want to see the same thoroughness applied to every property where survivors say they were taken or abused, including here in Britain.
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they → say → Britain
They added: 'Survivors have waited far too long, and what matters now is whether these investigations finally deliver answers, accountability and justice.'
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investigations → add → answers
They added: 'For decades, survivors have described how young women were recruited and moved between Fayed's properties, in Britain and overseas.
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women → add → Britain
We have never believed this was about one man acting alone.
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this → believe → man
Fayed is dead, but many of those who helped him are not, and his death must never become their protection.
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death → help → him
The survivor advocacy group No One Above also believes 'this was a network, not one man'.
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this → believe → ?
A spokesman said: 'The French authorities have put this in the hands of their specialist trafficking unit and their organised crime prosecutors, and are investigating it as trafficking by an organised gang.'
The Metropolitan Police described the investigation into those who may have facilitated Al Fayed's offending as 'one of the largest and most complex the Met is currently undertaking'.
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Met → say → largest
Seven people have been questioned under caution so far, including four women in their 40s, 50s, 60s and 80s, and three men in their 60s, 70s and 80s.
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people → question → 60s
A police spokesman said: 'Seven suspects have so far been interviewed under caution on suspicion of offences including aiding and abetting rape and sexual assault, assisting the commission of sexual offences, and human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
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suspects → say → exploitation
Detectives have additionally submitted a full evidential file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for a charging decision relating to a further suspect, who is alleged of committing two indecent assaults on two women in London.
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who → submit → London
To date, 169 victims have now come forward.
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victims → come → date
We will continue to assess victim testimonies for evidence of human trafficking.
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We → continue → trafficking
Where evidence is found, and where we have the victim's consent to do so, we will make further referrals to the Home Office via the National Referral Mechanism.'
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we → find → Mechanism
The Aporia
