‘A monster’: Lawyers for alleged victims of Mohamed Al Fayed compare case to Savile | Mohamed Al Fayed

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, alleging assault and physical violence at properties in London and Paris.

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

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, the institution was, as we say, aware of the conduct. Epstein because in that case, as in this case, there was a procurement system in place to source 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 frankly, Mohammed Al Fayed was a monster.”

Another lawyer, Bruce Drummond, told the press 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 appalling and I cannot stress that word enough.”