More than 200 women in legal talks with Harrods over al-Fayed abuse claims

Egyptian billionaire died last year aged 94. New allegations of rape and sexual abuse have emerged after BBC broadcast expose last month

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Harrods department store in London. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:53am, 11 Oct 2024Updated: 1:38am, 11 Oct 2024

More than 200 women are now in settlement talks with Harrods over alleged abuse by its former owner Mohamed al-Fayed, the high-end London department store said on Thursday.

The Egyptian billionaire died last year aged 94. But new allegations have emerged after the BBC last month broadcast an expose claiming he had raped and sexually abused women during his ownership of Harrods.

“Since the airing of the documentary, so far there are 200+ individuals who are now in the Harrods process to settle claims directly with the business,” the shop said in a statement.

Mohamed al-Fayed in 2010. The Egyptian billionaire died last year. Photo: Reuters

Separately, the BBC said on Thursday that another 65 women had told them they were abused by al-Fayed, while lawyers for the Justice for Harrods Survivors group representing alleged victims said they now have more than 70 clients.

Harrods is advising new complainants to obtain advice through the Harrods Survivors Group legal team or another legal team.

The new allegations sent to the BBC stretch back to 1977, include sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape: 37 of the 65 new claimants had worked at the UK’s most famous shop, the broadcaster added.

Justice for Harrods Survivors said women were now “feeling safe to come forward” and that the number of accusers was “increasing on a daily basis”.

The group “now retains 71 clients and is processing a further 220 inquiries”, having been contacted by people from all around the world, it added.