Metropolitan Police apologize for exposing email addresses of Al Fayed victims

The Metropolitan Police has issued an apology following a data breach that exposed the email addresses of approximately 140 women. The victims had come forward to report sexual abuse, rape, and human trafficking allegedly committed by the late Mohamed Al Fayed, the former owner of Harrods.

The breach occurred on August 11 during a monthly email update regarding Operation Cornpoppy, the ongoing investigation into Al Fayed and potential facilitators of his crimes. Due to what police described as “human error,” the recipients' email addresses were visible to others on the distribution list instead of being hidden via blind copy.

The police have referred the matter to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and are reviewing internal processes to prevent future occurrences. A group representing the survivors described the incident as “appalling.”

Mohamed Al Fayed died in 2023 at the age of 94. While he never faced charges during his lifetime, hundreds of women have since made allegations against him. The investigation continues, with police recently noting that seven suspects have been interviewed under caution.