Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al Fayed, whose son Dodi died alongside Princess Diana in a 1997 automobile crash in Paris, has been accused of rape by a number of girls, a brand new BBC documentary claims.
In “Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods,” which drops on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two in the present day, greater than 20 girls put ahead allegations of rape, tried rape, sexual assault and feminine violence.
The vast majority of the ladies making the allegations are former staff at Harrods, the posh British division story Al Fayed owned for 26 years. They labored there between the late Eighties and 2000s and the assaults are alleged to have occurred in London and Paris, the place he owned the Ritz lodge in addition to a historic villa as soon as belonging to Edward VIII.
Al Fayed died final yr on the age of 94.
In accordance with the documentary, which is accompanied by a “World of Secrets and techniques” podcast, additionally from the BBC, police investigated a rape allegation in 2015 however didn’t press fees. One girl mentioned she went to police in 2018 however was advised that Al Fayed, who had dementia, was too outdated to be prosecuted.
13 girls advised the BBC they had been sexually assaulted at a block of flats in Park Lane, the place Al Fayed would typically provide feminine staff working late a spot to remain. 4 alleged that they had been raped.
An extra 9 girls mentioned they had been sexually assaulted in Paris, with 5 girls alleging tried rape whereas one girl mentioned she was raped.
The documentary additionally consists of testimony from colleagues, together with a senior supervisor at Harrods who mentioned Al Fayed’s conduct was “recognized round the entire firm.”
In accordance with the BBC, not solely did Harrods fail to intervene, they “helped cowl up allegations of sexual abuse.” In July 2023, they are saying, Harrods started settling claims with among the girls.
Quite a few girls are actually getting ready authorized claims towards the division retailer.
In a press release, Harrods advised the BBC they’re “completely appalled by the allegations of abuse perpetrated by Mohamed Al Fayed”, which they “condemn within the strongest attainable phrases.”
“We additionally acknowledge that in this time as a enterprise we failed our staff who had been his victims and for this we sincerely apologize.”
Al Fayed offered Harrods to the Qatari royal household in 2010 for a reported £1.5 billion. After his son Dodi’s loss of life, he put in a memorial to Dodi and Diana within the retailer, which included a wine glass mentioned to be from their final dinner collectively, a hoop he claimed Dodi had proposed to the princess with and a copper statue of the couple holding a fowl.
As a result of his son’s involvement with the princess, Al Fayed was a key character within the fifth and 6 seasons of “The Crown,” with a whole episode devoted to following his rags to riches story.
A number of the girls who advised the BBC about their experiences with Al Fayed had been sad along with his portrayal within the Netflix collection. “It’s not honest that he received he received to die with the legacy he did,” one girl mentioned.
“Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods” is directed by Erica Gornall (“Ghislaine Maxwell: Making of a Monster”). Mike Radford is government producer whereas the producer is Cassie Cornish-Trestrail.
