Home HomeSwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

Harrods billionaire accused: "He was a monster"

Harrods' former owner, the late billionaire Mohamed al-Fayed, is accused in a new BBC documentary of several cases of rape and assault.

Published: Today 17:14
Harrods billionaire accused: "He was a monster"
Photo: Sang Tan/AP/TT

The BBC has spoken to over 20 women who worked at the department store Harrods from the 1980s onwards. Five of them testify that they were raped by al-Fayed.

The assaults are said to have taken place in London, Paris, Saint Tropez, and Abu Dhabi. One of the women recounts being raped as a teenager in al-Fayed's apartment in London.

Mohamed al-Fayed was a monster, a sexual predator who totally lacked a moral compass, she says in the documentary.

She describes it as al-Fayed viewing the Harrods employees as his "toys".

We were all so scared. He actively cultivated the fears.

The new testimonies follow several allegations made against al-Fayed during the #MeToo movement in 2017. None of the allegations then led to prosecution.

Mohamed al-Fayed, who passed away last year at the age of 94, was a prominent figure in British business through the venerable department store Harrods. He also gained attention in connection with his son Dodi al-Fayed's relationship with British Princess Diana. They were killed in the same car accident in 1997.

Harrods has in the past year reached financial settlements with several of the women who have come forward.

Places
People
Organisations
TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

France's new government is said to lean to the right
1 MIN READ

France's new government is said to lean to the right

Murder of trans woman sends shockwaves in Georgia
1 MIN READ

Murder of trans woman sends shockwaves in Georgia

Attacked by giant snake in her kitchen - for two hours
2 MIN READ

Attacked by giant snake in her kitchen - for two hours

Storm around Starmer's received gifts
1 MIN READ

Storm around Starmer's received gifts

Unique scope of the persons seeker attack
2 MIN READ

Unique scope of the persons seeker attack

Rwanda first to introduce mpox vaccine in Africa
1 MIN READ

Rwanda first to introduce mpox vaccine in Africa

Hezbollah's leader vows revenge after explosions
2 MIN READ

Hezbollah's leader vows revenge after explosions

Task: Sinwar to leave Gaza in new peace proposal
1 MIN READ

Task: Sinwar to leave Gaza in new peace proposal

Japan awaits explanation for boy's murder
1 MIN READ

Japan awaits explanation for boy's murder

Over 70 dead in jihadist attack in Mali
1 MIN READ

Over 70 dead in jihadist attack in Mali

Infected in the EU over Venezuela: "A Betrayal"
1 MIN READ

Infected in the EU over Venezuela: "A Betrayal"

Russia: We Have Taken Another Village
1 MIN READ

Russia: We Have Taken Another Village

Wore a sensitive t-shirt – got 14 months in prison
1 MIN READ

Wore a sensitive t-shirt – got 14 months in prison

EU billions for light and warmth in Ukraine
1 MIN READ

EU billions for light and warmth in Ukraine

Denmark's Queen Margrethe in Hospital
1 MIN READ

Denmark's Queen Margrethe in Hospital

Italian Mayor: The River Has Exploded
2 MIN READ

Italian Mayor: The River Has Exploded

Lebanon: Messages triggered the explosions
3 MIN READ

Lebanon: Messages triggered the explosions

Electronic Attacks: This is What We Know
4 MIN READ

Electronic Attacks: This is What We Know

Colombia stops peace talks with guerrilla
1 MIN READ

Colombia stops peace talks with guerrilla

Exploded people-searchers can be war crimes
4 MIN READ

Exploded people-searchers can be war crimes