Multiple women accuse Mohamed Al Fayed of rape and sexual assault

Greater than 20 girls have spoken to the BBC as a part of a particular investigation, coming ahead with allegations of assault and bodily violence at properties in London and Paris.

5 girls alleged they’d been raped by Mr Al Fayed, the broadcaster reported.

Mr Al Fayed, who died in 2023, had beforehand been accused of sexually assaulting and groping a number of girls.

A 2015 police investigation didn’t result in any prices.

Harrods’ present house owners mentioned they’re “totally appalled” by the allegations of abuse perpetrated by the late billionaire, including: “As a enterprise we failed our workers who had been his victims and for this we sincerely apologise.”

In July 2023, Harrods started settling claims with girls who got here ahead with claims of sexual abuse by the hands of Mr Al Fayed.

Rachel, not her actual title, informed the BBC she was raped after staying at certainly one of Mr Al Fayed’s flats after a late shift at work.

“I made it apparent that I didn’t need that to occur. I didn’t give consent. I simply needed it to be over,” she mentioned,

“I bear in mind feeling his physique on me, the load of him. Simply listening to him make these noises. And simply going some place else in my head.”

In an announcement, Harrods mentioned: “We’re totally appalled by the allegations of abuse perpetrated by Mohamed Al Fayed.

“These had been the actions of a person who was intent on abusing his energy wherever he operated and we condemn them within the strongest phrases.

“We additionally acknowledge that in this time as a enterprise we failed our workers who had been his victims, and for this we sincerely apologise.

“The Harrods of at the moment is a really completely different organisation to the one owned and managed by Al Fayed between 1985 and 2010, it’s one which seeks to place the welfare of our workers on the coronary heart of the whole lot we do.

“This is the reason, since new info got here to gentle in 2023 about historic allegations of sexual abuse by Al Fayed, it has been our precedence to settle claims within the quickest approach potential, avoiding prolonged authorized proceedings for the ladies concerned.

“This course of remains to be out there for any present or former Harrods workers.

“Whereas we can’t undo the previous, we’ve been decided to do the fitting factor as an organisation, pushed by the values we maintain at the moment, whereas guaranteeing that such behaviour can by no means be repeated sooner or later.”