Hundreds more sex-abuse victims of Mohamed Al Fayed could be out there

There could be hundreds more sex-abuse victims of Mohamed Al Fayed because the late Harrods boss was allowed to use the luxury department store as a ‘sex-trafficking centre’ for decades, lawyers said last night.

Al Fayed, who died at 94 in August last year, has been accused of dozens of sex attacks by at least 20 women who worked at the luxury shop in Knightsbridge, west London.

‘It looks like something that was going on for a long time involving a prolific sexual abuser,’ said Richard Meeran, of the legal firm Leigh Day.

‘What we’ve seen so far is likely only the tip of the iceberg.

‘We’ve got an iconic department store....and it appears to have been operated as a sex-trafficking centre by this man with the knowledge of Harrods.’

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His company is representing a victim who says she was raped and held against her will over a significant period while working at Harrods. Recruited to join its executive training programme, she claims she did not receive training, but was instead subjected to sex attacks.

The woman and her legal team believe there could be hundreds more survivors of similar abuse between 1985 and 2010, when Al Fayed sold Harrods.

Calling for victims to come forward, she said she hoped the ‘inspiring’ bravery of those who spoke out in the BBC Two documentary Al Fayed: Predator At Harrods – which exposed the scandal – would ‘embolden’ other survivors.

Lawyers claim Harrods organised and hid her trafficking and that of other women, which included HIV tests and gynaecological exams by doctors.

‘Young women were recruited, supposedly to work in “executive positions”, and were then transferred to various places and countries where they claim to have been subjected to depraved and prolonged sexual exploitation and abuse,’ Mr Meeran said. 

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‘They were told they were going to be on an executive management programme that appears to have been a guise for sexual exploitation by him.

‘It is utterly shocking that a British institution appears to have been operated in this way.’

Mr Meeran, joint head of his firm’s international department, said the women had been ‘dismally failed’ by Harrods, which had a duty of care.

The claims suggest other Harrods staff including security personnel and management either witnessed and facilitated abuse or failed to intervene or report it.

Leigh Day said it was in the early stages of examining whether there were sufficient grounds for a public inquiry and if a claim could be made against the Metropolitan Police after some survivors reported their abuse. 

Emma Jones, also a partner at the firm, added: ‘We are considering whether there should be wider inquiries to ensure that any and all agencies that might have had contact with the survivors or knowledge of this horrendous abuse, dealt with the allegations properly and thoroughly.’ 

The BBC revealed how Al Fayed would roam Harrods looking for his next victim.

Up to nine were attacked at his Paris home, where they were taken under the guise of work trips. 

One told the BBC: ‘I had not even thought to ask where we were staying because surely Harrods would have booked us a hotel room and ensure our safety... not delivered us like lambs to the slaughter to Al Fayed’s home.’

Lawyer Dean Armstrong KC said the ‘spider’s web of abuse was unbelievable’, adding that ‘senior people at Harrods’ tried ‘to sweep this under the carpet’.

Harrods said it was ‘appalled’ by the allegations, adding: ‘These were the actions of an individual intent on abusing his power... and we condemn them in the strongest terms. 

'We also acknowledge that during this time we failed employees who were his victims, and for this we apologise.’