Two women who allege they were victims of abuse by former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed are calling for accountability for those they claim facilitated his actions. Numerous women have accused Al Fayed of sexual assault and rape, asserting that his predatory behavior persisted for decades.
In their first public statements, one survivor, referred to as Sarah to protect her identity, expressed a desire for a public inquiry into how Al Fayed was able to „groom“ young women without detection. The Metropolitan Police have expanded their investigation to include allegations of human trafficking, having already interviewed four suspects under caution.
Reflecting on her initial encounter with Al Fayed during a job interview at the luxury department store, Sarah recounted feeling fortunate when he inquired about her relationship status and offered her money for work attire. She was later instructed to select a handbag valued at „up to £1,000,“ which was charged to Al Fayed’s account. „Even now, that seems like an obscene amount of money for a handbag,“ she remarked. „This was a common practice, where young girls were gifted items charged to his account.“ She now recognizes this as part of a „grooming“ process.
Similar Experiences Among Survivors
Another survivor, identified as Jane, shared that Al Fayed had kissed her on the cheek during her job interview, asked about her relationship status, and provided her with cash for work clothes. Both women described being singled out from the shop floor to work closely with Al Fayed, followed by directives to undergo medical examinations.
Sarah recounted that her examination included a cervical smear test, which left her feeling „mortified.“ Many women who allege they were assaulted while employed at Harrods reported undergoing medical procedures, including invasive sexual health tests. Sarah noted that Al Fayed’s inappropriate behavior began once she started working in his offices.
„It would start with an inappropriate hug, an inappropriate kiss on the cheek, and I just remember feeling like, you almost freeze in those instances when you think, ‚oh this is a bit weird, I don’t know what to do.'“ – Sarah
Jane described how Al Fayed’s actions escalated, leading her to feel increasingly uncomfortable and prompting her to seek excuses to avoid his office. „I didn’t know what was going to happen next. I was terrified,“ she stated.
Concerns Ignored by Harrods
Both women reported that their concerns were dismissed by Harrods at the time. Sarah recalled that the staff member she confided in appeared more upset with her than surprised by the allegations. „They were like, ‚you silly girl. Why did you let this happen?'“ she said.
Jane echoed this sentiment, stating that when she expressed her fear of Al Fayed, she was told that the „rumors were not true“ and that she had nothing to fear. „I felt so trapped and so unsure of how to handle the situation that I just didn’t know what to do,“ she added. „I tried to talk to someone about it and I was told that it was all in my head.“ She was also cautioned against discussing her experiences with others.
Call for Accountability
Al Fayed, who owned Harrods from 1985 until 2010, passed away in 2023 at the age of 94. The extent of his alleged predatory behavior was highlighted in a BBC documentary and podcast titled „Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods,“ which aired in September 2024.
Sarah and Jane are now advocating for those they believe enabled Al Fayed’s abuse to be held accountable. „Obviously he’s no longer here, so we aren’t able to keep him accountable,“ Sarah stated. „But there was a very organized system of people and processes in place around him that allowed this to happen, and we were not kept safe.“
The Metropolitan Police reported that 154 victims have come forward with allegations of sexual assault, rape, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking. They have interviewed three women, aged in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, along with one man in his 60s under caution. The investigation’s scope has expanded to include human trafficking offenses.
Both survivors welcomed the police’s expanded inquiry but expressed frustration over its slow progress. Harrods has stated that over 220 survivors have engaged with its compensation scheme, which is now closed to new submissions, and payments have been made to more than 70 individuals.
„The intention of the Harrods redress scheme has been to support survivors of the despicable sexual abuse perpetrated by Fayed, for which we have accepted vicarious liability and utterly condemn.“ – Harrods spokesperson
Tom Fletcher, a lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing some victims, noted that the scheme is designed for survivors seeking a quicker resolution to avoid re-traumatization. However, he acknowledged that it may not be suitable for everyone, as some survivors desire a higher level of accountability and justice that the scheme does not provide.
Concerns About Future Inquiries
Harrods has confirmed that an independent external investigation into whether any current employees were aware of the alleged abuse is nearing completion. The company also indicated that one employee left the organization last year as a result of the inquiry.
Sarah expressed her desire for a public inquiry, stating, „I think it would go a step further into giving the survivors a voice, making their stories believed.“ She feels that Harrods has not done enough regarding accountability and transparency throughout the process.
Conversely, Jane voiced skepticism about the effectiveness of a public inquiry, fearing it could waste public resources. „I think that rich, powerful individuals will be protected and they won’t be held fully accountable. I would love for it all to be exposed, but I just don’t think we’ll ever get that,“ she said. She hopes the police will thoroughly investigate those who were complicit in Al Fayed’s actions and hold them accountable, but she remains doubtful.
For further updates, listeners can tune into BBC Radio London and follow their social media channels.
Keywords: Harrods, Mohamed Al Fayed, survivors, sexual abuse, inquiry, accountability, Metropolitan Police, human trafficking.
Bildquelle: Foto von Virginia Marinova auf Unsplash
