The Met Police have said Al Fayed escaped charges despite 21 women filing allegations against him before his death(Image: BBC)

More than 500 women accuse ex-Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed of sexual assault

The number of victims accusing Mohamed Al Fayed of sexually abusing them has risen to more than 500. Lawyers of the survivors group said since last month's BBC documentary that accused the late tycoon of being a sexual predator, 316 women have contacted them with 'more coming forward every day'

11 Oct 2024, 18:27 by Tom Pettifor · The Mirror

More than 500 women have now accused ex-Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed of sexual abusing them. The figure was released yesterday by the Justice for Harrods Survivors group.

It came as police revealed they were investigating claims by 40 women made since last month’s BBC film that accused the late tycoon of being a sexual predator. Lawyers for the survivors group said it had been approached by 316 women from around the world with “more coming forward every day”.

An “additional 200” had contacted Harrods to make allegations. The Met Police said yesterday that Al Fayed escaped charges despite 21 women making allegations against him before his death. This updates the previous figure of 19.

The sexual offences are reported to have taken place between 1979 and 2013. As well as at the Harrods department store (above), the alleged attacks happened in other locations including Fulham FC, The Ritz and Al Fayad's homes in Park Lane and Surrey( Image: PA)

Four were reports of rape, 16 were of sexual assault and one was trafficking. The force claims it approached the Crown Prosecution Service five times between 2005 and 2023 but no action was taken.

Comndr Stephen Clayman said: “Since the documentary, detectives have received numerous pieces of information, predominantly relating to the activities of Mohamed Al Fayed but some relating to the actions of others. “This has led to us record 40 new allegations covering offences including sexual assault and rape between 1979 and 2013.”

He added that while it was too late to pursue Al Fayed, who died last year at 92, it would “continue to explore whether any other individuals could be pursued for any criminal offences”.

A photo of three of Mohamed Al Fayed's accusers who bravely came forward to attend a press conference last month( Image: PA)

Claims have been made in relation to other parts of Al Fayed’s empire including Fulham FC, The Ritz and his homes in Park Lane and Oxted, Surrey. Three Al Fayed accusers bravely came forward at a news conference last month.

Lindsay Mason, 55 – was 20 when she was recruited by Harrods – said: “Al Fayed attempted to rape me, he was very forceful.” Katherine, 51, an executive assistant in 2005, said the tycoon ripped all the buttons from her shirt, adding: “I was really humiliated.” Gemma, 42, a personal assistant from 2007 to 2009, said he raped her at Villa Windsor in Paris.