Lawyers claim elite store knew about assaults but turned blind eye to abuse.
Dozens of women from across the world have accused late Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed of sexual assault, lawyers said yesterday, likening the allegations to those against fallen figures like Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
At least 37 women from Australia and Malaysia, to Italy, Romania, the US and Canada have so far come forward to allege abuse by the Egyptian billionaire, who died last year aged 94.
One was just 16 when she was allegedly assaulted.
More women are expected to contact lawyers as a result of publicity surrounding a BBC investigation into the claims, including five who said they were raped.
Lawyers representing some of the women said they were victims of "systematic abuse" over 25 years "with the knowledge of Harrods", which Al-Fayed sold in 2010.
The new owners of the upmarket London department store said they were "utterly appalled" by the allegations.
But lawyer Dean Armstrong said there was an "abject failure of corporate responsibility and a failure to provide a safe system at work".
This story is from the September 21, 2024 edition of The Citizen.
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This story is from the September 21, 2024 edition of The Citizen.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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