Harrods: Third Al-Fayed brother accused of sexual abuse
Three former Harrods employees have accused Ali Fayed of sexually assaulting them in the 1990s while they were working for the department store.
Three former Harrods employees have accused Ali Fayed, Mohamed Al Fayed’s surviving brother, of sexually assaulting them in the 1990s while they were working for the department store.
The women allege the assaults occurred in London, Scotland, Switzerland, and the United States, and followed previous abuse by Mohamed Al Fayed, the BBC revealed.
A spokesperson for Ali Fayed, 81, who resides in the United States, denied the allegations, stating the incidents “never took place” and that he would “robustly defend himself against these unsubstantiated claims.”
One of the women, identified as Frances, described an encounter where Ali Fayed allegedly attempted to kiss her in his office before escalating to groping and molestation. Frances further detailed an alleged assault during a 1992 trip to Connecticut, where she was staying at the Fayed family’s former home. She recounted being sexually assaulted in a guest room, which she claimed stopped only when one of his children called for him.
-
Related Story
-
Another woman, Amy, told the BBC of an alleged assault by Ali Fayed at a swimming pool in Switzerland, where she said he “groped and fondled” her in an isolated area. She expressed feeling trapped and terrified.
It came after a BBC investigation revealed decades of serious sexual abuse allegations including rape and attempted rape by the late Al Fayed, who owned Harrods between 1985 and 2010.
The retailer’s new owners said they were “appalled” by the claims and that it had “failed our colleagues”. It has been investigating whether any current members of staff were involved since last year.
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter
