In London, representatives for numerous women who claim they were raped and sexually abused by the late Mohamed Al Fayed, the former owner of Harrods department store, have likened the case to those of sex offenders like Jimmy Savile, Jeffrey Epstein, and Harvey Weinstein. During a press briefing following the airing of the BBC documentary titled “Al-Fayed: Predator At Harrods,” lawyers labeled the Egypt-born businessman, who passed away at 94 last year, as a “monster” for allegedly abusing young women and girls employed at the store during his 25-year ownership.
Lead attorney Dean Armstrong stated that the case shares similarities with the crimes involving Jimmy Savile, Jeffrey Epstein, and Harvey Weinstein. He noted parallels to Savile in terms of institutional awareness of the behavior, resemblances to Epstein concerning a procurement system for sourcing victims, including very young ones, and likenesses to Weinstein due to a person in a powerful position within the organization exploiting their authority.
A woman identified as Natacha, who claims to be one of Al Fayed’s victims, disclosed at the press briefing that the billionaire was “highly manipulative” and targeted those who were vulnerable and in need, some lacking parental protection.
The current owners of Harrods, who took over from Al Fayed in 2010, expressed being “utterly appalled” by the abuse accusations, which only came to their attention last year. They emphasized their commitment to addressing the issue with a focus on organizational values and prevention of similar misconduct in the future.
However, Armstrong cast doubt on Harrods’ assertion of being unaware of the sexual allegations, citing claims of such behavior being reported against Al Fayed for decades. He urged accountability and prompt action from Harrods to rectify the situation.
Renowned U.S. attorney Gloria Allred, known for her involvement in major sexual abuse cases involving figures like Epstein, Weinstein, and Bill Cosby, also provided commentary. Allred characterized Harrods as an esteemed establishment where many women aspired to work, only to discover a toxic and abusive environment beneath the store’s glamorous facade.
