More than 250 women contacted Harrods with Al Fayed assault claims

More than 250 women have contacted Harrods after allegedly being sexually assaulted or raped by Mohamed Al Fayed while working at the store. 

The luxury department store said the women came forward following the release of a BBC documentary last month, which uncovered years of sexual abuse allegations against the former owner of Harrods. 

Previously, Harrods revealed it had already settled a number of claims against Al Fayed, who died last year aged 94. 

The luxury store has a compensation scheme for former employees who claim they were attacked by Al Fayed. 

The scheme is separate from a legal case against the luxury department store being brought forward by several different law firms. 

Justice for Harrods Survivors group, who represent accusers, said their lawyers were working with 147 women. 

Al Fayed is accused of multiple counts of rape and attempted rape by several women who were employed by his company. 

Many victims of the billionaire businessman said they felt unable to report what had happened to them until recently.

At the time of many of the alleged attacks, Al Fayed, who owned Harrods between 1985 and 2010, was the owner of Harrods, the Ritz Paris hotel and football club Fulham FC.

In response to the BBC investigation, Harrods' owners said they are 'utterly appalled' by the allegations and that the victims of the businessman had been failed. The store has sincerely apologised. 

MailOnline has contacted Harrods for comment.