Over 400 alleged victims have contacted the legal team pursuing a case against the late Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed, accused of sexual abuse and rape, attorney Dean Armstrong announced on Thursday.
In September, a BBC documentary exposed allegations that Al Fayed, who passed away last year at age 94, sexually abused female employees at his London department store Harrods. The documentary detailed how he coerced them into medical screenings and threatened repercussions if they attempted to complain.
“The extent of abuse committed by Al Fayed, and enabled by his associates, sadly, seems to be expanding,” Armstrong stated during a news conference in London.
Al Fayed had consistently denied similar claims before his death.
When Reuters sought a response, Harrods referred to its previous statements, which included an apology, expressions of dismay over the allegations, and an announcement of a compensation scheme for current or former employees wishing to seek redress.
Attorney Bruce Drummond revealed that the claims involve women from globally diverse locations, predominantly from Britain but also from the United States, Australia, Malaysia, Spain, South Africa, and other nations.
“This represents abuse on an industrial scale,” Drummond remarked, noting that the alleged abuses occurred within Harrods and extended to other locations associated with Al Fayed’s business interests, including Fulham Football Club, the Ritz Paris, and his estate in Surrey.
Victims reportedly include the daughter of a former U.S. ambassador to Britain and a well-known soccer player’s daughter, although no names were disclosed.
The BBC documentary highlighted Harrods’ failure to address and its role in concealing the abuse allegations during Al Fayed’s tenure.
Criticism has also been directed at the Harrods-run compensation scheme, with lawyers pointing out that some victims are hesitant to approach Harrods directly for compensation, given the abuse that occurred there.
Drummond added that some senior staff from Al Fayed’s time still hold positions at Harrods.
Last week, the Financial Times reported that four alleged victims had withdrawn from the Harrods compensation scheme, citing concerns over potential conflicts of interest and communication issues.
Before the BBC’s report, several media had reported on allegations against Al Fayed, including Vanity Fair in 1995, ITV in 1997, and Channel 4 in 2017. Lawyers noted in September that many women felt able to speak publicly only after Al Fayed’s death.
