Mohamed Al Fayed, the former owner of luxury department store Harrods, has been accused of sexually assaulting over 20 women during his tenure. According to a recent BBC investigation, five women have alleged that they were raped by the billionaire businessman. The victims, all former employees of Al Fayed, claim that the assaults took place at company offices, Fayed's London apartment, or during foreign trips.
Harrods's current owners responded to allegations In response to the allegations, the current owners of Harrods expressed their shock and offered an apology to the victims. They stated they were "utterly appalled" by the accusations and emphasized that today's company is "very different" from when it was under Al Fayed's control between 1985 and 2010. The company described the allegations as "the actions of an individual who was intent on abusing his power" Al Fayed—who passed away last year at age 94—sold Harrods in 2010.
Previous allegations and investigations into Al Fayed Al Fayed faced similar accusations during his lifetime. In 2009, the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to charge him over a claim that he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl at Harrods. He was also interviewed by police in 2013 following an allegation of sexual assault at his Park Lane apartment, but no further action was taken after the case was reopened in 2015.
Al Fayed consistently denied all allegations. Victims share detailed accounts in the documentary The BBC documentary, Al Faye.