Luxury department store Harrods has “sincerely” apologised and acknowledged it “failed employees” as allegations of rape and sexual assault against its former owner Mohamed Al Fayed unfold.
The Egyptian billionaire and former Harrods owner Al Fayed, who died last year aged 94, has been accused of more than 20 cases of sexual abuse.
In a news conference held today, the BBC heard testimony from victims and the lawyers for former Harrods employees outlined the case against Al Fayed and the department store.
They were joined by US women’s rights lawyer Gloria Allred who has represented the victims of high-profile offenders, such as Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein, previously.
The conference followed an investigation led by the BBC published on Thursday that highlighted allegations against Al Fayed taking place in London, Paris, St Tropez and Abu Dhabi.
When Al Fayed died he no longer owned Harrods. However, 14 women are understood to have brought civil claims against Harrods’ current owners for damages.
The department store is now owned by Harrods Ltd, a company owned by the state of Qatar via its sovereign wealth fund the Qatar Investment Authority.
Harrods 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 employee.
“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.”
While Harrods said it was “a priority” to settle claims in “the quickest way possible” for victims, the outcome for the business remains unclear.
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