No fewer than 60 women have come forward with allegations of sexual abuse against Mohamed Al-Fayed, the former owner of Harrods, according to a statement released by their legal representatives on Friday.
These allegations follow the airing of a BBC documentary last week, in which multiple women accused the late billionaire of rape and sexual abuse during his time as the owner of the luxury department store. Al-Fayed, who passed away last year at the age of 94, now joins the ranks of high-profile figures like Harvey Weinstein, who have been disgraced by sexual misconduct claims.
In their statement, the legal team revealed that they have been contacted by people worldwide since the television expose, confirming they now represent 60 survivors. They expect the number of claims to grow, citing credible evidence of abuse at other Al-Fayed properties, including Fulham Football Club.
Reports suggest a pattern of abuse linked to Al-Fayed dating back years. British prosecutors had twice reviewed evidence against him, once in 2008 when he was accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl, and again in 2013 when accused of rape. In both cases, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) determined there was insufficient evidence to pursue charges.
Former Harrods Managing Director Michael Ward described a “toxic culture” under Al-Fayed, but denied awareness of his criminal behavior. The women allege that many of the assaults occurred in Fayed’s London apartments and other properties, such as the Ritz hotel in Paris.
As the scandal unfolds, the legal team is calling for an independent process to evaluate the mounting claims against the late businessman. Harrods and other organizations once linked to Fayed continue to face public scrutiny amidst these revelations.
News Editor