Former Harrods owner accused of raping women in new documentary
What's the story
Mohamed Al Fayed, the former owner of luxury department store Harrods, has been accused of sexually assaulting over 20 women during his tenure.
According to a recent BBC investigation, five women have alleged that they were raped by the billionaire businessman.
The victims, all former employees of Al Fayed, claim that the assaults took place at company offices, Fayed's London apartment, or during foreign trips.
Official response
Harrods's current owners responded to allegations
In response to the allegations, the current owners of Harrods expressed their shock and offered an apology to the victims.
They stated they were "utterly appalled" by the accusations and emphasized that today's company is "very different" from when it was under Al Fayed's control between 1985 and 2010.
The company described the allegations as "the actions of an individual who was intent on abusing his power"
Al Fayed—who passed away last year at age 94—sold Harrods in 2010.
Past accusations
Previous allegations and investigations into Al Fayed
Al Fayed faced similar accusations during his lifetime.
In 2009, the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to charge him over a claim that he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl at Harrods.
He was also interviewed by police in 2013 following an allegation of sexual assault at his Park Lane apartment, but no further action was taken after the case was reopened in 2015.
Al Fayed consistently denied all allegations.
Victim testimonies
Victims share detailed accounts in the documentary
The BBC documentary, Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods, features detailed accounts of the alleged abuse.
One woman described Al Fayed as a "monster, a sexual predator with no moral compass."
Three other women claimed they were raped by him in his London apartment.
A fifth woman, identified only as Gemma, alleged that Al Fayed raped her in his Paris apartment and then made her wash herself with disinfectant.
Media impact
Women spoke out following Al Fayed's portrayal in 'The Crown'
Several women came forward with their allegations after seeing Al Fayed sympathetically portrayed in the Netflix Emmy-winning series The Crown.
One woman, identified only as Sophia, who worked as a personal assistant to Al Fayed from 1988 to 1991, stated that people shouldn't remember him as he was depicted in the series.
The episodes in question covered the relationship between Diana, Princess of Wales and Al Fayed's son Dodi Fayed.
Background
Al Fayed: A brief overview of his life and career
For those unaware, Al Fayed, born in Egypt, was a prominent businessman in the Middle East before moving to the UK in the 1970s.
He took control of Harrods in 1985 and owned the Ritz hotel in Paris since 1979. Additionally, he was the owner of Fulham FC between 1997 and 2013.
His son Dodi died alongside Princess Diana in a car crash in Paris in 1997.