An Epstein victim claims she was trafficked to Mohamed Al Fayed for a yacht sex attack in 1997, in what is the first suspected link between the two abusers
A victim of the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein has claimed that she was trafficked to former Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed and sexually assaulted on a luxury yacht.
The woman, known only as Natalie to protect her identity, was just 17 when she fell under Epstein’s control.
She claims the disgraced billionaire kept tabs on her location across Europe at all times, eventually ordering her to meet a “very influential” associate in Saint-Tropez.
The Times reports that the man was the Egyptian tycoon Mohamed Al Fayed in what is the first time the two notorious figures have been linked in a direct trafficking allegation. Natalie, a former model, described the terrifying level of control Epstein exerted over her life.
She said: “Jeffrey would keep track of where I was – say I’m in Spain, or I’m in Germany or London or Paris. He’d always know.”
In the summer of 1997, a message to her pager from Epstein’s assistant changed everything. It read: “You might have a good opportunity here, this guy is very influential. You should meet him.”
She was told to drop everything during a catalogue shoot and head to a “huge boat” docked on the French Riviera to meet “Mohamed.”
Natalie recalls being welcomed onto the superyacht by an older man she now “one thousand per cent” identifies as Al Fayed. She also claims to have seen a man she believes was his brother, the late Salah Fayed, on board.
The meeting took place during the same summer that Al Fayed’s son, Dodi, and Princess Diana were famously photographed on the tycoon’s yacht, the Jonikal, though Natalie does not recall seeing the famous couple.
She said: “I asked to leave and get off, but I wasn’t allowed to leave until we docked again.” She claims Al Fayed made inappropriate comments about wanting to “try new things” before sexually assaulting her.
“I feel like I was at this point where I had become used to this treatment,” she added, explaining she felt she had to comply to keep Epstein happy.
The news comes as the Metropolitan Police ramp up Operation Cornpoppy, an investigation into the massive scale of abuse allegations against Al Fayed following his death in 2023 at age 94. More than 400 women have now come forward.
Three women have already been interviewed under caution for allegedly aiding and abetting the abuse.
Police are investigating Epstein’s use of private terminals at Luton and Stansted, where Harrods Aviation operated, to see if they were used to bypass immigration for trafficking.
Sources suggest Epstein and Al Fayed may have been introduced by Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi.
In a statement, Harrods, which was sold by Al Fayed in 2010, said it “failed” the employees who were his victims and offered a sincere apology.
Regarding the aviation claims, the company said that all passenger documentation is the responsibility of Border Force officials.
Natalie, who is now in contact with other survivors, said: “It took me a long time to even realise what was happening to me was trafficking. I think there’s a lot still to unpack.”
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