Mohamed Al Fayed rape accusations: Harrods statement in full as ex boss accused of multiple sex assaults

Late Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al Fayed raped and sexually assaulted dozens of his former female employees, according to testimony from many of his alleged victims

Luxury store Harrods has apologised following claims that former owner Mohamed Al Fayed raped and sexually assaulted multiple former female staff members.

The famous department store in Knightsbridge, London, issued its statement amid harrowing allegations that Fayed abused staff after he took over Harrods in 1985. Fayed carved out a reputation as an eccentric businessman and appeared on multiple TV shows in the 90s and 00s.

Fayed died in August last year, aged 94. Harrods was sold to the Qatar Investment Authority in May, 2010. But away from the limelight Fayed was described as a "monster" who preyed on female employees. According to the accounts of more than 20 women for a BBC investigation, the sexual assaults happened in London, Paris, St Tropez and Abu Dhabi.

Harrod's statement

In a statement, a Harrods spokesperson said: "We are utterly appalled by the allegations of abuse perpetrated by Mohamed Al Fayed. These were the actions of an individual who was intent on abusing his power wherever he operated and we condemn them in the strongest terms.

“We also acknowledge that during this time as a business we failed our employees who were his victims, and for this we sincerely apologise. The Harrods of today is a very different organisation to the one owned and controlled by Al Fayed between 1985 and 2010, it is one that seeks to put the welfare of our employees at the heart of everything we do.

“This is why, since new information came to light in 2023 about historic allegations of sexual abuse by Al Fayed, it has been our priority to settle claims in the quickest way possible, avoiding lengthy legal proceedings for the women involved. This process is still available for any current or former Harrods employees.

“While we cannot undo the past, we have been determined to do the right thing as an organisation, driven by the values we hold today, while ensuring that such behaviour can never be repeated in the future.”

Employee's claims

The BBC heard accounts from Fayed's former employees who went into detail about his abuse. The allegations will be heard tonight as part of a podcast and feature aired on BBC Sounds and iPlayer.

A woman who worked as his personal assistant between 1988 and 1991 and claims Fayed attempted to rape her on multiple occasions said: "He was vile...that makes me angry, people shouldn't remember him like that. It's not how he was."

She recalled two separate instances where he tried to force himself on her – once in his apartment on Park Lane and another during a trip to his Villa Windsor in Paris. Both times, she believes he was going to rape her, and she kicked and screamed to get him off.

The sexual assaults reportedly happened in Harrod's offices, in Fayed's flat as well as during foreign trips to France. Rachel, not her real name, who was 19 at the time, stayed in one of Al Fayed’s apartments instead of taking a taxi home on his insistence after working late on Harrods business. He then invited her to his personal apartment, where he asked her to sit on the bed, with his hand on her leg and a firm grip, she says.

“I made it obvious that I didn't want that to happen. I did not give consent. I just wanted it to be over,” she says, “I remember feeling his body on me, the weight of him. Just hearing him make these noises. And just going somewhere else in my head.”

“He raped me,” Rachel tells the BBC, “Afterwards, you blame yourself. You're there to do a job and this is your boss standing there in front of you in a dressing gown. And so even when you're trying to get out of the situation, I'm trying not to offend him.”

Legal case

Bruce Drummond and Dean Armstrong KC are part of a group of lawyers now preparing new legal claims against Harrods.

“Any place of work has a duty to ensure the safety of its employees. When you take that to a classic place like Harrods, without question, the company failed these ladies,” Mr Drummond says.

“We are in possession of material to suggest that the extent of the knowledge of those who were significant in Harrods did rather make it, effectively, at least an acquiescence to what was going on,” adds Mr Armstrong.

Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods is on BBC Two at 9pm tonight (Thursday) and is available on BBC iPlayer now. All five episodes of World of Secrets: Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods are available on BBC Sounds. This is season four, from the BBC World Service, of the BBC’s global investigations podcast.