65 More Women Accuse Mohamed Al Fayed of Sexual Abuse

An additional 65 women have come forward with allegations of sexual abuse against the late billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed, following the release of the documentary Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods.

The BBC reported that the new claims, which span from 1977 to recent years, surfaced after the documentary aired.

The accusations include instances of sexual harassment, assault, and rape, involving not only employees of his businesses but also women outside his professional circle.

The fresh allegations suggest that Al Fayed, who passed away last year, used a broader range of tactics to exploit women than previously known.

Several women claimed they were lured into working as domestic staff for Al Fayed under false pretenses, only to be subjected to sexual abuse, including at his mansion in Oxted, Surrey.

One of the earliest reported incidents dates back to 1977 in Dubai, well before Al Fayed became a prominent figure in the UK following his 1985 purchase of Harrods. A woman described how Al Fayed stalked, threatened, and ultimately sexually assaulted her.

Similar accounts of intimidation were later made by women who worked at Harrods, with some alleging that security staff were involved in facilitating the harassment.

Of the 65 women who came forward, 37 claimed they were employed at Harrods when they were abused by Al Fayed.

In response to the BBC’s inquiries, Harrods issued a statement acknowledging the ongoing process to address the claims.

“Since the airing of the documentary, over 200 individuals are now in the Harrods process to settle claims directly with the business.”

However, not all of the women who came forward were employed by Al Fayed. Some alleged they were targeted and assaulted outside his professional sphere.

One woman, who worked at a London flower shop in the early 1980s, said she was flown to the Paris Ritz for a job interview, only to be sexually assaulted by Al Fayed.

Another woman, a former BBC make-up artist, alleged she was assaulted by Al Fayed in 1989 while working on The Clothes Show during an interview at Villa Windsor, his Paris residence.