Harrods Staff Accuse Former Director Mohamed Al-Fayed of Multiple Rapes

Five women claim that they were raped by Mohamed Al-Fayed, the former owner of the renowned Harrods department store in London, while they worked there. This is reported by the Russian service of the BBC.

The BBC has heard evidence from over 20 former female employees who state that the billionaire, who passed away last year at the age of 94, subjected them to sexual violence.

The current owners of Harrods have expressed that they are "deeply shocked" by the allegations against the victims and the lack of action, for which the store has sincerely apologized.

“The web of corruption and abuse in this company was unbelievable and very dark,” says lawyer Bruce Drummond, who represents several women.

The incidents took place in London, Paris, Saint-Tropez, and Abu Dhabi.

“I made it clear that I did not want this to happen. I did not give my consent. I just wanted everything to end,” said one of the women who claims Al-Fayed raped her in his apartment on Park Lane in London.

Another woman stated that she was a teenager when Al-Fayed raped her at one of the addresses in the Mayfair district of London. “Mohamed Al-Fayed was a monster, a sexual predator without moral principles,” she said, adding that all Harrods employees were his “toys.” “We were all so scared. He actively instilled fear. If he said ‘jump,’ the staff would ask ‘how high?’”

Al-Fayed faced allegations of sexual violence during his lifetime, but the current accusations are unprecedented in their scale and severity. The BBC believes that a larger number of women may have fallen victim to him.