Sixty-five more women have come forward with abuse allegations against the late billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed, following a documentary that detailed testimonies of women who said he sexually assaulted and raped them. The allegations date back to 1977 in Dubai, eight years before Al Fayed purchased Harrods, a high-end London department store.
Among the women who contacted the source with new accounts of abuse, 37 said they had worked at Harrods. More than 20 female ex-Harrods employees had already accused Al Fayed of sexual assault in a previous investigation. One woman reported being assaulted at the age of 15 by Al Fayed when he was 79.
Harrods acknowledged that Al Fayed abused his power and apologized to the victims. The latest allegations involve various abuse tactics, including women who were recruited under false pretenses to work at Al Fayed's residences and then sexually exploited.
One woman shared her experience of being kept against her will and repeatedly sexually assaulted at Al Fayed's mansion in Surrey, England. Harrods stated that new information about historic abuse allegations came to light last year and they are prioritizing settling claims quickly to avoid lengthy legal proceedings.
Since the documentary aired, over 200 individuals are now in the process of settling claims directly with Harrods. The company is committed to addressing the allegations and providing support to the victims.
