Al Fayed enablers ‘must face accountability’, survivors say

Survivors of Mohamed Al Fayed’s alleged misconduct at Harrods have demanded that those who facilitated his predatory behavior be held responsible. Two women, who shared their experiences with BBC London, highlighted how a structured system of support allowed the former department store owner to abuse multiple individuals over years. The Metropolitan Police, which has interviewed four suspects under caution, expanded its investigation to include accusations of human trafficking, citing the growing number of survivors who came forward.

One survivor, known only as Sarah, recounted how she felt her life was transformed during a job interview with Al Fayed. At 18, she was surprised when he inquired about her romantic status and handed her cash for work attire. Later, she was directed to select a high-value handbag, with the cost charged to his personal account. “Even now, that seemed like an excessive amount for a single bag,” Sarah said, describing the moment as part of a calculated effort to build trust. She now views this as the beginning of a grooming process.

“I mean, even now, to me, that was just an obscene amount of money to be able to just go and spend on a handbag.” – Sarah

Another survivor, Jane (not her real name), shared a similar narrative. During her interview, Al Fayed kissed her on the cheek, asked about her relationship, and gave her money for clothes. Both women described being chosen to work directly with Al Fayed and then subjected to medical examinations, including invasive sexual health tests. Sarah emphasized the humiliation of her cervical smear test, which left her feeling “mortified.” Jane added that she was “terrified” of what might follow, with her anxiety growing as his behavior became more aggressive.

Despite raising concerns at Harrods, neither woman felt supported. Sarah recalled a staff member dismissing her claims, reacting with anger rather than empathy. “They were like, ‘you silly girl. Why did you let this happen?'” she said. Jane was told the “rumours were not true” and warned against speaking out. “I felt so trapped and unsure of how to handle the situation that I just didn’t know what to do,” she explained.

Al Fayed, who led Harrods from 1985 to 2010, passed away in 2023 at age 94. The scale of his alleged abuse was revealed through a BBC documentary and podcast, *Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods*, which aired in September 2024. Sarah and Jane now urge for public accountability, stating that the business’s “organised system of people and process” enabled the abuse. “He’s no longer here, so we can’t hold him accountable,” Sarah said. “But the people around him allowed this to happen without protecting us.”

The police have identified 154 survivors who allege sexual assault, rape, exploitation, and human trafficking. They interviewed three women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, along with a man in his 60s. Survivors expressed frustration over the slow pace of the investigation, though they welcomed its recent broadening. Harrods reported over 220 survivors had engaged with its compensation scheme, which is now closed to new submissions.