Source: BBC

"Five women say they were raped by former Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed when they worked at the luxury London department store.

The BBC has heard testimony from more than 20 female ex-employees who say the billionaire, who died last year aged 94, sexually assaulted or raped them.

The documentary and podcast - Al-Fayed: Predator at Harrods - gathered evidence that, during Fayed's ownership, Harrods not only failed to intervene, but helped cover up abuse allegations.

Harrods' current owners said they were "utterly appalled" by the allegations and that his victims had been failed - for which the store sincerely apologised.

"The spider's web of corruption and abuse in this company was unbelievable and very dark," says barrister Bruce Drummond, from a legal team representing a number of the women.

Since this article was first published, more former Harrods employees have contacted the BBC saying Mohammed Al Fayed assaulted them.

Warning: this story contains details some may find distressing.

The incidents took place in London, Paris, St Tropez and Abu Dhabi.

"I made it obvious that I didn't want that to happen. I did not give consent. I just wanted it to be over," says one of the women, who says Fayed raped her at his Park Lane apartment.

Another woman says she was a teenager when he raped her at the Mayfair address.

"Mohamed Al Fayed was a monster, a sexual predator with no moral compass whatsoever," she says, adding that all the staff at Harrods were his "playthings".

"We were all so scared. He actively cultivated fear. If he said 'jump' employees would ask 'how high'."

Fayed faced sexual assault claims while he was alive, but these allegations are of unprecedented scale and seriousness. The BBC believes many more women may have been assaulted"

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz6x635wpjxo