More people come forward to report alleged offences, including rape and sexual abuse, covering 34-year period

Mohamed Al Fayed, the former owner of Harrods, died last year. Photograph: Murdo Macleod/The Guardian

The Metropolitan police have said they are investigating 40 new allegations, including rape and sexual assault, relating to Mohamed Al Fayed and others, following the broadcast of a BBC documentary into his behaviour.

Scotland Yard said 40 people had come forward to make allegations since the airing of the BBC programme in which five women said they were assaulted by the late billionaire, who their lawyers have claimed was enabled by people who worked for him.

Cmdr Stephen Clayman said: “Since the broadcast of the documentary and our recent appeal, detectives have received numerous pieces of information, predominantly relating to the activities of Mohamed Al Fayed but some relating to the actions of others.

“This has led to us record 40 new allegations, relating to 40 victim-survivors and covering offences including sexual assault and rape across a time period between 1979 and 2013. These are in addition to allegations we were aware of prior to the broadcast.”