New allegations of rape against ex-owner of Herd’s store Al Fayed

More than 20 female employees have accused the former owner of Herd’s store chain, Mohammad Al Fayed, of sexual assault, including rape.

Former female employees allege they were sexually assaulted by the billionaire businessman while working at a luxury department store in London.

Five of these women claimed that they were raped. A woman has alleged that Al Fayed raped her in his Park Lane apartment when she was a teenager.

He described the Egyptian-born al-Fayed as a monster and a sex predator with no moral standards while treating the Herds staff as his playthings.

The woman said: ‘We were all very scared. They actively created a climate of fear. If he said jump, the employees would ask (inaudible because of their fear), how high?’

The BBC documentary and podcast ‘Al-Fayed: Herod’s Predator’ gathered evidence against 94-year-old Al-Fayed from more than 20 women who died last year.

The incidents are said to have taken place in London, Paris, St Tropez and Abu Dhabi.

The British broadcaster alleged that the Heards failed to intervene in the matter and even helped cover up allegations of sexual assault.

The current owners of the department store issued a ‘sincere apology’, saying the allegations were appalling and that the women victims of Al Fayed could not be saved.

People wait for the Herds store to open in central London on December 27, 2010 (AFP)

Barrister Bruce Drummond, who acted for the firm representing the women, said: ‘The web of corruption and abuse at this company was unbelievable and very dark.’

Al Fayed has also faced allegations of sexual assault in his lifetime, but a recent BBC report includes new allegations and more alleged victims.

In a statement, the department store said: ‘We are deeply troubled by the allegations of abuse made against Mohamed Al Fayed.

This section contains related reference points (Related Nodes field).

‘These were the actions of an individual who was intent on abusing his power wherever he worked and we condemn him in the strongest possible terms.

‘We also recognize that as a business at this time we failed to protect our employees who fell victim to them and for that we sincerely apologize.’

The statement added: ‘Today’s Herds is very different from the organization owned and controlled by Al Fayed between 1985 and 2010, it is now a company that wants to put the welfare of its employees above all else.

‘This is why it has been our priority to settle claims as quickly as possible, avoiding lengthy legal proceedings for the women affected after new information comes to light in 2023 about past allegations of sexual abuse against Al Fayed.

‘This process is still available to any current or former Harrods employees.

“While we cannot undo the past, we are committed to doing the right thing as an organization that represents our values ​​today by ensuring that such behavior is never repeated in the future.” .’