A number of girls have accused Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed, the previous proprietor of upmarket London division retailer Harrods the place they labored, of rape and sexual assault, the BBC mentioned on Thursday.
The allegations, made in a BBC documentary and podcast, are the newest to be levelled at highly effective figures following the beginning of the #MeToo motion in 2017.
Fayed, who died final 12 months on the age of 94, was a distinguished determine in British life for many years resulting from his possession of Harrods.
A confidant of the late Princess Diana, his son Dodi, died alongside her in a automobile crash in Paris in 1997.
Greater than 20 girls have spoken to the BBC as a part of a particular investigation alleging assault and bodily violence at properties in London and Paris.
5 girls mentioned that they had been raped by him, in response to the documentary Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods resulting from be broadcast later Thursday and the World of Secrets and techniques podcast. Fayed had beforehand been accused of sexually assaulting and groping a number of girls however a 2015 police investigation right into a rape allegation didn’t result in any costs.
Harrods’ present homeowners mentioned they had been “completely appalled” by the allegations of abuse, 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 Fayed from the late Eighties to late 2000s.
Fayed bought the well-known retailer in Knightsbridge in 2010 to the funding arm of Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund for a reported £1.5 billion (nearly R35 billion).