The allegations, highlighted in a new BBC documentary titled Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods, assert that the Egyptian-born billionaire sexually assaulted these women between 1984 and 2010, the period of his ownership.
Former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed has been accused of raping five female ex-employees during his tenure at the luxury London department store.
The allegations, highlighted in a new BBC documentary titled Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods, assert that the Egyptian-born billionaire sexually assaulted these women between 1984 and 2010, the period of his ownership.
The documentary by BBC exposes that over 20 female former workers at Harrods have come forward with allegations of sexual abuse by Al Fayed. The program suggests that the company not only failed to address the claims but also actively covered up the abuse.
In response to the accusations, the current owners of Harrods have expressed their profound shock and issued a public apology to the affected women. They stated, "We are utterly appalled by these allegations and deeply regret the pain caused."
Bruce Drummond, a barrister representing some of the accusers, criticised the company's inaction, saying, "The spider’s web of corruption and abuse in this company was unbelievable and very dark. Any place of work has a duty to ensure the safety of its employees. Without question, the company failed these ladies. That’s why we step in. Because they just did nothing to actually prevent this. They did the opposite. They enabled it."
BBC documentary revealed that the alleged assaults are said to have occurred in various locations, including London at his Mayfair flat, Paris at the Ritz hotel he owned, St. Tropez in France, and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
One woman, who has come forward and claims Fayed raped her at his London apartment, told BBC investigators: "I made it clear that I didn’t want it to happen. I did not give consent. I just wanted it to be over."
Another accuser described being raped as a teenager at the Mayfair residence, alleging that staff at Harrods were treated as his "playthings."
She said, "Mohamed Al Fayed was a monster, a sexual predator with no moral compass whatsoever. We were all so scared. He actively cultivated fear. If he said 'jump,' employees would ask, 'How high?'"
Gemma, who worked as a personal assistant for Al Fayed from 2007 to 2009, told BBC how his behaviour became increasingly intimidating during work trips abroad.
She alleges that he raped her at Villa Windsor in Paris, a former residence of King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson.
She described waking up to find him trying to get into bed with her, adding, "I told him, 'No, I don’t want you to.' He continued trying to get into the bed, and at that point, he was on top of me, and I couldn’t move. I was face down on the bed, and he pressed himself on me."
She added, "I believe Mohamed Al Fayed is a serial rapist."
Fayed faced sexual assault accusations during his lifetime, and the BBC now suggests that many more women may have been victims.
Eamon Coyle, who worked as a store detective and deputy director of security at Harrods from 1979 to 1995, told the BBC, "We were aware of his strong interest in young girls."
The BBC has heard from 13 women who claim they were sexually assaulted at Fayed's 60 Park Lane property in London, with four alleging rape.
In response, Harrods issued a statement, "The Harrods of today is very different from the one owned and controlled by Al Fayed between 1985 and 2010. We prioritize the welfare of our employees. Since new information emerged in 2023 about historical sexual abuse allegations against Al Fayed, we have been working to address these claims as swiftly as possible.
“This process remains available to current and former Harrods employees. While we cannot undo the past, we are committed to ensuring such behavior is never repeated."
The Ritz hotel in Paris, previously owned by Fayed, stated that it "strongly condemns all forms of behavior that do not align with the values of the establishment."
Fayed, born in Alexandria in 1929, moved to the UK in the 1960s and became a significant figure in Dubai's development.
He later acquired House of Fraser, including Harrods, and owned the Ritz hotel in Paris until his death. His career began with selling fizzy drinks and sewing machines before he built a fortune in real estate, shipping, and construction, aided by connections through his first wife Samira Khashoggi's brother, Adnan Khashoggi.
Fayed mingled with prominent figures, including Diana, Princess of Wales, and Prince Charles, whom he met at a polo match in the 1980s.
He introduced Diana to his son Dodi, and later investigated the crash that killed Dodi and Diana on August 31, 1997, almost 26 years before his own death. Diana and Dodi were famously photographed together in St. Tropez in 1997, fueling romance rumors.
https://www.bbc.com/news/