BBCA BBC investigation has revealed decades of serious sexual abuse allegations against Mohamed Al Fayed, the former owner of luxury store Harrods.
The billionaire businessman, who died last year at the age of 94, was accused of multiple counts of rape and attempted rape by several women who worked for him – many of whom felt unable to report what happened until now.
At the time of many of the alleged attacks, Fayed was the owner of Harrods, the Ritz Paris hotel and Fulham FC football club.
He was a well-known public figure who had connections with senior figures in Parliament as well as royalty and celebrities.
Here are some important dates spanning nearly 40 years where there are claims about his actions.
1985 – Mohamed Al Fayed bought the Harrods department store in Knightsbridge, London, and became its chairman.
1986 – “Alice”, who spoke in the BBC documentary 2024, started working at Harrods at the age of 16. She said she was sexually abused from 1987 and worked as a personal assistant to Fayed – a position she held until 1991.
1988-1991 – “He’s evil,” said another woman, “Sophia”, who worked as a personal assistant during those years. She said that he tried to rape her more than once.
1990s – “Rachel” – a woman who worked as a personal assistant to Fayed in the 90s – said in the same BBC documentary that the billionaire was raped in a luxury apartment overlooking Hyde Park in west London.
1994 – In”cash for questions“scandal erupted in Westminster. Fayed went public and admitted making payments to two Conservative MPs to ask questions in Parliament.
1994-1995 “Steve”, who worked for the billionaire during this time, told the BBC in a 2024 documentary that security staff “knew that there were certain incidents with female employees at Harrods and Park Lane”.
1995 – Vanity Fair published an article alleging racism, staff surveillance and sexual misconduct by Fayed against Harrods staff.
Fayed sued for libel, which led to a two-year investigation by Vanity Fair editor Henry Porter. According to documents and statements compiled by Vanity Fair – which the BBC has seen – allegations of sexual harassment and assault were made in relation to several women.
1997 – Fayed bought third division Fulham FC for £30m.
At MayFayed began his move to put legal action against Vanity Fair, through negotiations between publisher Conde Nast UK and Harrods executive, Michael Cole – a former BBC journalist.
Princess Diana and her son Dodi Al Fayed died in a car accident in Paris August.
In a piece for the Observer thereMr. Porter said the owner of Conde Nast, Si Newhouse, agreed to close down the case “out of respect for the grieving father”.
Evidence of Fayed’s alleged activities collected by Vanity Fair was kept safe by Mr Porter, who has since allowed journalists – including BBC documentary makers – access, he said in the Observer.
At December that year, ITV’s The Big Story reported more serious allegations including sexual harassment and groping – which is classified as sexual assault.
Fayed issued an angry statement saying the claims were exaggerated and untrue. He claimed he did not contribute to the program because he could not hear the allegations before.
1998 – Another former BBC journalist, biographer Tom Bower, published “Fayed: An Unauthorized Biography” with more women reporting sexual assaults.
Fayed’s official spokesman, Michael Cole, called it an “oath of truth”, saying: “We helped Tom, then betrayed all that help”.
2008 – One of the women in the BBC investigation, “Ellie”, not her real name, was 15 in 2008 when she reported the assault to the police – an allegation that made headlines but did not lead to any charges.
2009 – In the BBC documentary 2024, Gemma, who worked as one of Fayed’s personal assistants between 2007-09, said his behavior became more frightening when he traveled abroad for work. He said the attack culminated in a rape at the Villa Windsor in the Bois de Boulogne in Paris.
2010 – Mohamed Al Fayed sold Harrods for £1.5 billion to the Qatar Investment Authority. The Channel 4 program Dispatches in which several women were to make allegations was cancelled.
2013 – July: Fayed sells Fulham FC to Shahid Khan, owner of NFL side Jacksonville Jaguars the deal is said to be in the region of £150-£200m.
A woman in her twenties claimed Fayed raped her. Police investigated but no charges were brought against him.
2015 – The mirror published an article about the allegations in 2013. The Met Police confirmed they were looking into the case again after new information came to light, but no further charges were laid.
2017 – Channel 4 Dispatches broadcast with three women reporting groping, assault, and sexual harassment. One woman waived her right to anonymity for the first time.
2018 – Channel 4 News following up the film Dispatches after other women come forwardincluding 15 employees at the time. Fayed’s lawyer dismissed the claims involving the boy as “false”, and said he could not comment on other allegations.
2018-2023 – Police are investigating claims from three other women during the same period. The Crown Prosecution Service was called in to advise detectives but a full file of evidence was never passed on to prosecutors, as first reported by the Sunday Times in September 2024.
2023 – Eng JulyHarrods began settling claims with women who came forward alleging sexual assault by Fayed.
Mohamed Al Fayed died in London aged 94 in August 2023.
2024 – BBC Documentary “Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods“aired on September with some women alleging sexual abuse at the hands of Fayed.
The BBC heard testimony from more than 20 women with allegations ranging from sexual assault to rape. Five said they were raped.
Harrods has reached a financial settlement with the majority of people who have approached them since 2023, and has new questions this week.
Harrods accepted vicarious liability for Fayed’s actions, and no non-disclosure agreement was attached to the settlement.
The current owner is Harrods said earlier this week they were “absolutely shocked by the allegations of abuse perpetrated by Mohamed Al Fayed”.
“These are the actions of people who want to abuse their power everywhere and we punish them in the strongest possible way,” he said in response to the BBC’s investigation.
“We also recognize that we failed the victims and sincerely apologize. We are doing everything we can to fix this.”
At a press conference on September 20, lawyer Gloria Allred said the “ugly truth” was that under Mr Al Fayed’s leadership, Harrods was a “toxic, unsafe and abusive environment”.
He added: “The charges against Mohamed Al Fayed include serial rape, attempted rape, sexual battery and sexual abuse of minors.
“The allegations include a quarter-century of cover-up, threats and sexual abuse by Mohamed Al Fayed after he bought Harrods and became chairman.”
