Al Fayed denies sex assault on teenage girl

MOHAMED AL FAYED last night vehemently denied an allegation of sexual assault on a teenage girl after he was interviewed by police under caution.

The Harrods owner voluntarily went to a west London police station yesterday about the alleged incident in May.

His spokeswoman, Katharine Witty, said he was “confident” his name would be cleared.

Al Fayed was not forced to attend the police interview, which lasted less than half an hour.

It is understood the allegation relates to a complaint by a 15-year-old girl that the multi-millionaire businessman sexually assaulted her at Harrods.

The girl told police al Fayed kissed her after she met him at the exclusive Knightsbridge store while shopping with her mother.

In a statement outside Harrods yesterday, Witty said: “We confirm that Mohamed al Fayed today voluntarily attended an interview with police to categorically refute an allegation widely reported in the media. He did not attend under compulsion and the meeting lasted for less than half an hour.

“Mr al Fayed vehemently denies this allegation and is confident that his name will be cleared.”

Scotland Yard refused to confirm the Harrods owner had been questioned.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: “A man attended a west London police station by prior arrangement and was questioned under caution this morning.”

So far there have been no arrests, the police spokeswoman said.

Egyptian-born al Fayed also owns Fulham Football Club.

This year an inquest rejected his claim that Diana, Princess of Wales, was killed by intelligence agents because she was pregnant with his son Dodi’s child and they were about to announce their engagement.