Over 400 Allegations Emerge Against Mohamed al Fayed, Triggering Public Outcry

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Following the release of a documentary detailing alleged abuses by Mohamed al Fayed, the former Harrods and Fulham FC owner, over 400 individuals have come forward with testimonies, according to the Justice for Harrods Survivors group. These allegations span various accusations, including rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, and the abuse of minors. Many individuals who have spoken out had connections to Harrods, Fulham FC, and other locations linked to Fayed's business empire.

'We are currently engaged with 400 people who have been impacted by this abuse'

The Justice For Harrods Survivors campaign is holding a news conference on the investigation in to Mohamed Al-Fayed

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The survivors' group, represented by lawyers Dean Armstrong KC, Bruce Drummond, and Maria Mulla, held a news conference in London to address the scale of the alleged abuse. Mr. Armstrong stated, "We now have clients who have suffered abuse at Harrods, at Fulham Football Club, at the hands of Al Fayed and at various places associated with [him]." He further confirmed that the group has been contacted by over 400 people, including alleged victims and witnesses, some providing corroborating testimonies.

 

In a significant development, Mr. Armstrong revealed that the first formal letter of claim on behalf of a survivor has been issued to Harrods, marking the initiation of a legal process that may be followed by hundreds of similar claims. The claims have originated not only from the UK but also from the U.S., Canada, Asia, Australia, and Europe, underscoring the global extent of the allegations. Mr. Drummond described this as "an industrial scale of abuse" and attributed it to a systematic structure that allegedly enabled the behavior. "Abuse that could have only been perpetrated with a system that enabled the abuse to happen," he said, highlighting the complex nature of the accusations.

 

Mr. Drummond emphasized the gravity of the situation by pointing to the locations where Fayed’s abuse allegedly took place, including his residence in London’s Park Lane, his Surrey estate, his aircraft, the Ritz Hotel in Paris, and his private yacht. He added, “Every young lady in his orbit was a target.” These accusations suggest that the abuse was not isolated but pervasive across the various spheres of Fayed’s personal and professional life.

 

Among those who have come forward is Bianca Gascoigne, daughter of former footballer Paul Gascoigne, who alleges that Fayed groomed and assaulted her when she worked as a teenager at Harrods. In addition, Ronnie Gibbons, a former Fulham Women captain, claims she was twice assaulted by Fayed. The allegations build on 21 previous claims made by women to the Metropolitan Police between 2005 and 2023, demonstrating a long-standing pattern of accusations.

 

Harrods, the luxury department store formerly owned by Fayed from 1985 to 2010, has publicly distanced itself from the allegations. The company stated it is “utterly appalled” by the claims and emphasized that it is a “very different organization to the one owned and controlled by Fayed.”

 

Based on a report by Sky News 2024-11-02