Harrodsexpresses deep dismay over allegations suggesting that previous proprietor Mohamed Al Fayed engaged in sexual assault against employees.
Over twenty former Harrods employees, now adults, have claimed that the late Al Fayed, who passed away at 94 last year, sexually assaulted them, as reported by an extensive BBC investigation. One victim stated she was assaulted when she was just fifteen, with Al Fayed being seventy-nine at the time. Harrods acknowledged that Al Fayed had an intent to misuse his power in any environment he operated.
The alleged assaults are said to have taken place at various locations, including Al Fayed's plush London apartment, the Ritz hotel in Paris, which he owned, and a rented Parisian villa, Villa Windsor, famous for being the long-term residence of the Duke of Windsor, a former British king, and his wife, for decades.
Al Fayed's son, Dodi Fayed, tragically passed away in 1997 along with Princess Diana in a high-speed car crash in Paris.
Former Harrods employees shared with the BBC that Al Fayed's treatment of women was an open secret within the department store. One former department manager stated, "It wasn't even a secret. Anyone who says they didn't know, they're lying."
In 2008, Al Fayed denied accusations of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of sixteen. The alleged incident took place at a business address in central London.
Harrods issued an apology to the victims in a statement, expressing, "We are appalled by the allegations of abuse inflicted by Mohamed Al Fayed. These were actions of an individual who aimed to misuse his power in any environment he operated, and we condemn them in the strongest terms. We also acknowledge that as a business, during this time, we failed our employees who were his victims. For this, we sincerely apologize."
Harrods mentioned that last year, new information surfaced about historic accusations of sexual abuse against Al Fayed. Since then, the company stated, "It has been our priority to settle claims swiftly, avoiding prolonged legal proceedings for the women involved. This process remains available for any current or former Harrods employees."
Despite the alleged assaults happening in various international locations such as the UK and France, the BBC investigation highlighted numerous incidents at Harrods.The UK's response to these serious allegations against Al Fayed has not been detailed in the provided text.
