Mohamed Al Fayed accused of raping five women and sexually abusing 15 others

Former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed has been accused of raping five women and sexually abusing 15 others

A BBC documentary has revealed allegations of sexual abuse and rape against former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed. The documentary, titled "Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods," features accounts from over 20 women who claim to have been sexually assaulted by Al Fayed while working at the luxury department store. Five women have accused Al Fayed of rape, with one woman stating that she was raped as a teenager in Al Fayed's Park Lane apartment.

"Mohamed Al Fayed was a monster, a sexual predator with no moral compass," one of the alleged victims told the BBC. Another woman, named only as Gemma, claimed that Al Fayed raped her at his Villa Windsor apartment in Paris and then made her wash herself with disinfectant. "Obviously he wanted me to erase any trace of him being anywhere near me," she said.

The documentary-makers claim that the women came forward after seeing Al Fayed sympathetically portrayed in the Netflix series "The Crown." Bruce Drummond, a barrister representing several of the women, stated, "The spider's web of corruption and abuse at this company was unbelievable and very dark."

Harrods has issued a statement condemning the allegations and apologizing to the victims. "We are utterly appalled by the allegations of abuse perpetrated by Mohamed Al Fayed. These were the actions of an individual who was intent on abusing his power wherever he operated and we condemn them in the strongest terms," the statement read. The current owners of Harrods have also offered to settle claims with any current or former employees who may have been affected by Al Fayed's actions.