Police Scotland investigating Al Fayed abuse claims

Police Scotland has said "further investigation is ongoing" into sexual assault allegations against Mohamed Al Fayed.

The former Harrods owner, who died in August 2023, is alleged to have sexually abused hundreds of women and girls at various locations.

Some of the attacks are alleged to have taken place at his Balnagown Estate in Easter Ross in the Highlands.

Al Fayed bought Balnagown in 1972 and also Sutherland's Falls of Shin Visitor Centre, which was damaged by fire in 2013.

In 2024, the force said it had completed its inquiries into a report of a non-recent sexual assault at the Balnagown Estate.

On Sunday, a Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Further investigation is ongoing. It would be inappropriate to comment further."

The Scottish Mail on Sunday reports that the Police Scotland investigation into Al Fayed's alleged abuse has been re-opened after a new witness came forward.

The paper says the force could not originally progress the case brought to it by Sophia Stone, now 58, because there was no evidence to corroborate her account.

But now, a new witness is understood to have spoken to police who has backed up Stone's account.

Stone had been a personal assistant to the businessman after joining Harrods at 19.

Her husband Keaton has previously told the BBC she had been groomed, sexually assaulted, and almost raped by Al Fayed.

He said she was also "constant harassment and sexual assault" both in the office and everywhere she went with him, including private helicopters and planes.

She reported her experience to Police Scotland in 2021.

Harrods has previously said it was "utterly appalled" by the allegations and has condemned his actions "in the strongest terms", with its new owners setting up a compensation scheme for ex-employees who say they were attacked by Al Fayed.