Three former employees of Harrods have accused Ali Fayed, the brother of the late Mohamed Al Fayed, of sexual assault, as allegations continue to emerge against the family that once owned the luxury department store.
The accusations come after more than 400 women have spoken out against Mohamed Al Fayed, the former owner of Harrods and Fulham Football Club, following a BBC documentary released in September. Now, attention has turned to Ali Fayed, the last surviving brother, who is accused of assaulting women while they worked at Harrods in the 1990s.
New Allegations Emerge
According to the BBC, three former Harrods employees claim they were assaulted by Ali Fayed in multiple locations, including London, Scotland, Switzerland, and the United States.
One woman, identified as Amy, described enduring abuse for three years while working as Mohamed Al Fayed’s personal assistant. She alleges that Ali Fayed groped her at a Fayed family chalet in Switzerland.
Another former employee, known as Frances, worked as an interior designer at Harrods. She claims she was regularly abused by Mohamed Al Fayed before being “molested” by Ali Fayed at an apartment in central London and later at his family home in Connecticut.
The third alleged victim, Laura, told the BBC she was subjected to a “serious sexual assault” by Ali Fayed.
A spokesperson for Ali Fayed has denied all allegations.
Expanding Investigation
The accusations against Ali Fayed follow similar claims against another brother, the late Salah Fayed, who was accused in November of assaulting women during his time as a co-owner of Harrods. The same month, The New York Times reported allegations that Ali Fayed was aware of a “trafficking” network involving women.
London’s Metropolitan Police has since opened a new investigation into sexual assault claims against Mohamed Al Fayed, identifying at least 90 victims.
Harrods Responds
Harrods has distanced itself from the controversy, stating that it “cannot and would not comment on individual cases.” However, the department store emphasized its support for survivors, saying:
“Harrods supports the bravery of all survivors in coming forward. Their claims point to the breadth of abuse by Mohamed Fayed and raise serious allegations against his brother, Ali Fayed.”
The company confirmed that Ali Fayed was a director based in the chairman’s offices but noted that he left the role in 2010 when Harrods changed ownership.
Survivors Seek Justice
The group Justice for Harrods Survivors, which represents hundreds of women alleging abuse by Mohamed Al Fayed, is also supporting the three women accusing Ali Fayed.
“It was clear from the very first days of our work that other individuals beyond Mohamed Al Fayed were alleged to have been involved in the abuse and its concealment,” the organization said in a statement.
They praised the bravery of the women speaking out and reaffirmed their commitment to securing justice and accountability for all survivors.
As the case against Mohamed Al Fayed continues to unfold, the allegations against Ali Fayed raise further questions about the extent of the abuse within the powerful family.
