Al Fayed quizzed over 'sexual assault'

Mohamed al Fayed has been interviewed under caution in connection with an allegation of sexual assault against a girl aged under 16. The Harrods owner voluntarily went to a police station in west London to answer questions about the alleged incident in May. His spokeswoman Katharine Witty said he vehemently denies the allegation and is confident his name will be cleared. She added: "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. "From the outset details of this allegation have appeared in the media which they attributed to a police source, and indeed despite assurances that today's interview would be kept confidential, he is concerned that it was reported within one hour of its conclusion." Earlier, a Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that a man attended a west London police station by prior arrangement and was questioned under caution this morning. "The man was questioned in relation to an allegation of sexual assault on a girl under 16 at a business premises in central London. The allegation was received in May 2008." The Met's Operation Sapphire, which investigates sexual offences across London, is leading the inquiry. There have been no arrests so far.

» More on this story... «

ITN | October 22, 2008

Tags:. .UK News. .vehemently. .outset. .al. .said