Claims against Al Fayed reach UK court for first time

Allegations of maltreatment against Mohamed Al Fayed and his member Salah person been heard successful a UK tribunal for the archetypal clip successful a civilian lawsuit being brought against Harrods.

A pistillate is suing Harrods Ltd for damages for idiosyncratic injuries she alleges she suffered portion moving for the section store that the Fayeds owned.

A High Court proceeding connected Wednesday, wherever an exertion for anonymity for the claimant was granted, heard allegations that she was forced to terminate a gestation arsenic good arsenic being drugged and raped by Salah Fayed.

It is believed to beryllium the archetypal assertion against Harrods to scope a UK tribunal involving an alleged unfortunate of Mohamed Al Fayed, who was ne'er charged implicit rape and intersexual battle allegations and died successful 2023.

Solicitors Leigh Day, which represents the claimant, has antecedently said it had been contacted by much than 100 women.

A abstracted ineligible lawsuit is being brought by the Justice for Harrods Survivors group, which has antecedently said it is representing much than 400 women.

Al Fayed, who died aged 94, owned Harrods betwixt 1985 and 2010.

Salah Fayed, who died of pancreatic crab successful 2010, was 1 of 3 Fayed brothers who purchased the luxury Knightsbridge store successful 1985.

Claims of intersexual offences by Al Fayed arose successful a BBC documentary, aft his death, which revealed the grade of his predatory behaviour.

It was lone aft the BBC broadcast successful September that the Metropolitan Police revealed it had been approached by 21 women, earlier Al Fayed's death, who accused him of intersexual offences including rape, intersexual battle and trafficking. Despite this, helium was ne'er charged with immoderate offences.

Since the documentary aired, 90 further women person contacted the force, with allegations stretching arsenic acold backmost arsenic 1977. A wider probe by the Met into the claims against Al Fayed is ongoing.

Harrods' caller owners person antecedently said they are "appalled" by the allegations of intersexual maltreatment and person been investigating since 2023 whether immoderate existent members of unit were involved.

The retailer has declined to accidental whether enactment has been taken against immoderate idiosyncratic oregon erstwhile the reappraisal mightiness beryllium completed.

In a connection connected Wednesday, a Harrods spokesperson said it "supports the bravery of each survivors successful coming forward".

"These claims constituent to the breadth of maltreatment by Mohamed Fayed and again rise superior allegations against his brother, Salah Fayed," the spokesperson added.

"The representation that has emerged suggests that this signifier of abusive behaviour took spot wherever they operated."

The Harrods spokesperson said it encouraged "survivors to look astatine each due avenue to them successful their pursuit of justice, whether that beryllium Harrods, the constabulary oregon the Fayed household and estate".

"We cannot and would not remark connected idiosyncratic cases," the spokeperson said.

In November, the Met Police said it was investigating astatine slightest 5 people it believes whitethorn person assisted oregon enabled Mohamed Al Fayed's alleged intersexual offences.