Mohamed Al Fayed was a ‘monster’

Lawyers representing Mohamed Al Fayed’s alleged victims have said the case “combines some of the most appalling elements of the Jimmy Savile, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein cases”.

The late Harrods owner was described as a “monster” during a press conference by the legal team in the BBC documentary Al-Fayed: Predator At Harrods.

More than 20 former female employees have spoken to the broadcaster as part of a special investigation, coming forward with allegations of assault and physical violence at properties in London and Paris.

Five women allege they were raped by Mr Al Fayed, who died last year at the age of 94.

“Never seen such a gruesome thing”

At a press conference in London on Friday, barrister Dean Armstrong KC said he had “never seen a case as horrific as this”.

“This case combines some of the most appalling elements of the Jimmy Savile, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein cases,” he said.

“Savile because in this case, as in that case, the institution, we say, was aware of the behavior.

“Epstein, because in that case, as in this case, there was a system of procurement to find the women and girls – as you know there are some very young victims.

“And Weinstein, because it was a person at the top of the organization who abused his power.

“We will say outright: Mohammed Al Fayed was a monster.”

“Mohammed Al Fayed was a monster”

Mr Armstrong KC told the press conference that the legal team has been hired by 37 of Mr Al Fayed’s accusers and that there are “many more people hiring the team”.

Following the publication of the investigation on Thursday, a woman – whom the BBC has named as Melanie – came forward to say she had been the victim of a “sickening” sexual assault by the Egyptian billionaire.

The woman worked at Harrods before 2010 and met Mr Al Fayed twice during work meetings before being called to his apartment, it was reported.

Melanie, who described the businessman as a “slimeball” and “slimy”, said: “He sat down next to me… He had asked if I wanted to come back a few weeks later to stay in the apartments the night before the sale at Harrods.

“And he wouldn’t really let me go until I agreed. When I got up to leave, he put his hands on my chest and said some pretty disgusting things. And I was in complete shock. I just turned around and walked away.”

“Toxic, unsafe and offensive environment”

US lawyer Gloria Allred described Harrods as a “toxic, unsafe and abusive environment” under Mr Al Fayed’s chairmanship.

She told the news conference that the allegations against Mr Al Fayed include serial rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse of minors.

“These were doctors who performed invasive gynecological examinations as a condition of employment for a number of employees who were targeted for sexual abuse by Mohammed Al Fayed,” she said.

“The allegations also include the improper disclosure to Mohamed Al Fayed of the results of investigations into employees he targeted for sexual abuse.”

Lawyer Bruce Drummond told the news conference that Harrods “must accept responsibility for the harm these women have suffered”.

He said: “This is one of the worst cases of corporate sexual exploitation that I, and perhaps the world, have ever seen.

“It was absolutely horrific and I can’t stress that word enough.”

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