Menu
30/11/2007
Al Fayed 'Knew' Crash Deaths Were Plotted
The Princess Diana inquest has been told of the reaction of her lover Dodi's father after hearing about the fatal crash.
His immediate – calm – response was to insist that the deaths were staged deliberately – and was the result of a plot.
Mohamed Al Fayed said his son had been the victim of a plot or an assassination within seconds of being told of his death, the court has heard.
Frank Klein, boss of the Ritz hotel in Paris, told the Princess Diana inquest how he broke the news of Dodi Al Fayed's death in a call to his father.
Mr Klein said that Mr Fayed had told him: "This is not an accident, this is a plot or an assassination."
He added that Dodi had told him he was going to get engaged.
The Princess and Dodi Al Fayed died after the black Mercedes they were travelling in crashed in a Paris tunnel on 31 August, 1997, along with their driver Henri Paul.
Ritz president Mr Klein, who was not in Paris on the night of the accident but at his holiday home in the south of France, told the London inquest he was told what had happened by telephone.
Fighting back tears, he told the court of the phone call he then made - 20 minutes after the crash - to Mohamed Al Fayed, who sat just yards away from him in court.
"I said, 'Mr Al Fayed, very sorry to disturb you, there has been a terrible accident... Dodi passed away and the driver,'" Mr Klein told the court.
Mr Al Fayed said 'what about the princess?'"
Mr Klein told Mr Al Fayed that he thought the princess was still alive.
"Mr Al Fayed, very calm, said to me, 'Frank, this is not an accident, this is a plot or an assassination'.
"I said, 'you cannot say that, it's an accident'.
"And he said, 'Frank, I know more than you know, more than you think'."
(BMcC)
His immediate – calm – response was to insist that the deaths were staged deliberately – and was the result of a plot.
Mohamed Al Fayed said his son had been the victim of a plot or an assassination within seconds of being told of his death, the court has heard.
Frank Klein, boss of the Ritz hotel in Paris, told the Princess Diana inquest how he broke the news of Dodi Al Fayed's death in a call to his father.
Mr Klein said that Mr Fayed had told him: "This is not an accident, this is a plot or an assassination."
He added that Dodi had told him he was going to get engaged.
The Princess and Dodi Al Fayed died after the black Mercedes they were travelling in crashed in a Paris tunnel on 31 August, 1997, along with their driver Henri Paul.
Ritz president Mr Klein, who was not in Paris on the night of the accident but at his holiday home in the south of France, told the London inquest he was told what had happened by telephone.
Fighting back tears, he told the court of the phone call he then made - 20 minutes after the crash - to Mohamed Al Fayed, who sat just yards away from him in court.
"I said, 'Mr Al Fayed, very sorry to disturb you, there has been a terrible accident... Dodi passed away and the driver,'" Mr Klein told the court.
Mr Al Fayed said 'what about the princess?'"
Mr Klein told Mr Al Fayed that he thought the princess was still alive.
"Mr Al Fayed, very calm, said to me, 'Frank, this is not an accident, this is a plot or an assassination'.
"I said, 'you cannot say that, it's an accident'.
"And he said, 'Frank, I know more than you know, more than you think'."
(BMcC)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
18 October 2007
Was Diana Ready To Wed?
The jury in the Princess Diana inquest have seen new CCTV footage of Dodi Al Fayed picking out what his family say was an engagement ring. Just hours before the crash in which the couple were killed, Mr Al Fayed paid a visit to the Paris branch of the famous jeweller Alberto Repossi.
Was Diana Ready To Wed?
The jury in the Princess Diana inquest have seen new CCTV footage of Dodi Al Fayed picking out what his family say was an engagement ring. Just hours before the crash in which the couple were killed, Mr Al Fayed paid a visit to the Paris branch of the famous jeweller Alberto Repossi.
18 February 2008
Diana And Dodi 'Murdered', Al Fayed Claims
Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed were murdered, Mohamed Al Fayed has told the inquest into their deaths. The Harrods boss - Dodi's father - told the inquest at the Royal Courts of Justice, that there was a plot to have the Princess killed, in order for Prince Charles to be able to marry Camillla Parker-Bowles.
Diana And Dodi 'Murdered', Al Fayed Claims
Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed were murdered, Mohamed Al Fayed has told the inquest into their deaths. The Harrods boss - Dodi's father - told the inquest at the Royal Courts of Justice, that there was a plot to have the Princess killed, in order for Prince Charles to be able to marry Camillla Parker-Bowles.
23 October 2008
Al Fayed Denies Child Assault Claims
Harrods boss Mohamed al Fayed has vehemently denied a newspaper report alleging he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl, after voluntarily speaking to police. Mr al Fayed was questioned 'under caution' for 30 minutes, at a London police station yesterday, during which he denied the Sun newspaper's claims.
Al Fayed Denies Child Assault Claims
Harrods boss Mohamed al Fayed has vehemently denied a newspaper report alleging he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl, after voluntarily speaking to police. Mr al Fayed was questioned 'under caution' for 30 minutes, at a London police station yesterday, during which he denied the Sun newspaper's claims.
09 April 2008
Al Fayed Ends Ten Year Legal Battle
Mohamed Al Fayed, the billionaire owner of Harrods has told reporters "enough is enough" in light of the jury's verdict of the inquest into Princess Diana and his son Dodi's death.
Al Fayed Ends Ten Year Legal Battle
Mohamed Al Fayed, the billionaire owner of Harrods has told reporters "enough is enough" in light of the jury's verdict of the inquest into Princess Diana and his son Dodi's death.
05 March 2007
Al Fayed asked for evidence in Diana inquest
Mohammed Al Fayed has been asked to provide any evidence that Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed were murdered to an inquest into their deaths. Speaking at a pre-inquest hearing on Monday, Lady Butler-Sloss said that she had not been given "a shred of evidence" about the allegations.
Al Fayed asked for evidence in Diana inquest
Mohammed Al Fayed has been asked to provide any evidence that Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed were murdered to an inquest into their deaths. Speaking at a pre-inquest hearing on Monday, Lady Butler-Sloss said that she had not been given "a shred of evidence" about the allegations.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
