New Allegations Surface Against Mohamed Al Fayed's Brother Amid Harrods Abuse Scandal
Three former Harrods employees have come forward with disturbing allegations of sexual abuse against Salah Fayed, one of Mohamed Al Fayed’s brothers, claiming that Salah abused them between 1989 and 1997 in London, the south of France, and Monaco.
One woman, identified as Helen, told the BBC she was 23 and working at her "dream job" at Harrods when Mohamed Al Fayed raped her during a business trip to Dubai. Later, she said, she was offered work with Salah, where she alleges she was drugged and raped while unconscious.
"They’ve stolen a part of me," Helen told the BBC, adding, "It’s changed the course of my entire life."
Two other women, who also worked at Harrods, have come forward with similar accusations, describing incidents of alleged trafficking and coercion. According to one of them, Salah used crack cocaine to manipulate them, making them vulnerable to further abuse. One woman, Rachael, said Salah encouraged her to smoke from a hookah that she later discovered contained crack cocaine. Another, Rebecca, alleges that both Mohamed and Salah assaulted her under the pretense of offering personal assistant roles.
Hundreds of claims of sexual abuse and assault have been made against Mohamed Al Fayed, who passed away last year at age 94. Police have confirmed they are investigating some of these allegations. Harrods, meanwhile, is working to settle claims through a compensation scheme, offering survivors counseling and independent survivor advocacy.
In response to the emerging allegations against Salah Fayed, Harrods released a statement urging victims to file claims through the company’s support scheme, emphasizing, "These new claims point to the breadth of abuse by Mohamed Fayed and raise serious allegations against his brother, Salah Fayed."
The Justice for Harrods Survivors group expressed gratitude for the bravery of these women, stating, "We have credible evidence from our survivors suggesting the abuse perpetrated at Harrods and Mohamed Al Fayed’s other properties was not limited to Mr. Al Fayed himself." They added their commitment to exposing other potential enablers involved in a "vast infrastructure" of abuse.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed it is aware of the allegations against Salah Fayed and is reviewing past reports, prioritizing support for survivors and promising to thoroughly investigate all possible avenues. "We understand the weight of these allegations and are committed to ensuring every potential victim-survivor has a voice," said Commander Stephen Clayman.
Salah Fayed, who passed away in 2010, was one of the Fayed brothers who bought the prestigious department store in 1985.