Ali Fayed, the brother of Mohamed Al Fayed, is accused of sexual assault by former Harrods employees

Ali Fayed has been accused of sexual abuse in the 1990s by three former Harrods employees.

Ali Fayed, the sole living brother of the late Mohamed Al Fayed, has been accused in public by three former Harrods workers of sexually abusing them during their time there.

The Fayed family controlled and operated Harrods in the 1990s, when the alleged crimes took place.

Now living in the United States, 82-year-old Ali Fayed has vehemently refuted every accusation. He “unequivocally denies any and all allegations of wrongdoing,” according to his spokeswoman, and “the incidents simply never took place.”

The three women claim that Ali Fayed abused them in the US, Switzerland, Scotland, and London, among other places. Frances, a former Harrods interior designer, is one of the women who says she was abused while visiting at Ali Fayed’s Connecticut family home. at 1989, Frances accepted a position at the interior design studio of Harrods.

She recalled how the attack didn’t stop until one of his little children cried for him, saying, “His hands were everywhere.”

For over three years, another lady named Amy served as Mohamed Al Fayed’s personal assistant. She alleges that Ali raped her when she was on a work trip to Switzerland and that Mohamed sexually assaulted her throughout her time there. She said she felt “trapped” and “terrified” when he molested her at an abandoned swimming pool.

According to the third lady, Laura, she recalls Ali Fayed visiting Mohamed’s workplace on Park Lane and answering his calls. “He called me ‘Amy speaking,’ which he found amusing,” she remembers.

She said she was seriously sexually assaulted while traveling to Switzerland with Ali. She remembers being “numbed with fear” and said that she followed his directions to get away.

All three women claimed that Ali Fayed’s older brother, Mohamed, had sexually abused them prior to the alleged assault. Mohamed Al Fayed passed away in 2023, and according to police, 111 women have lodged accusations against him. Sometime in the 1970s, Mohamed Al Fayed prefixed his last name with the Arabic “Al.” According to several victims, the Fayed brothers supported and facilitated one another’s predatory actions.

Frances detailed a poisonous atmosphere in which Ali and Mohamed would alternate between lavish presents and mistreatment.

Ali would frequently offer Mohamed cash in the form of jewelry or clothing. She remarked, “It would be a seesaw between abusive behavior, compliments on my work, and these opulent items.”

Frances said that while on a business trip to Ali Fayed’s house in Scotland, Ali dragged her into his lap and sexually assaulted her. She recalled how she was able to escape and flee the room, saying, “I remember him laughing.”

Because they were afraid of reprisals, none of the ladies at the time reported the alleged assault. After Frances started dating a coworker, which Mohamed Al Fayed supposedly prohibited, she was later fired from Harrods. She was severely affected by the incident, yet she was successful in her lawsuit for unjust dismissal.

I still get awful panic episodes and anxiety. She remarked, “I don’t like people in my space.”

Following her claimed attack, Amy also experienced difficulties. She explained her tendency to shy away from attention in social settings by saying, “I wanted to remove myself from it all, but the trauma stayed with me.”

Through the organization “Justice for Harrods Survivors,” the three women are currently suing Harrods in civil court.

Maria Mulla, their attorney, praised their courage and declared, “We will stop at nothing to ensure justice and accountability.”

“This is my opportunity to at last advocate for myself. Frances declares, “I won’t be that terrified 24-year-old who is clueless about what to do.”

Since 2010, Harrods, which is now owned by a different company, has acknowledged the gravity of the accusations. The shop released a statement saying, “We could not possibly speak on behalf of any individual who can, and should, respond to these allegations directly.”

Ten days after the BBC presented him with the accusations, Ali Fayed, who co-owns the upscale British shirtmaker “Turnbull & Asser” with his sons, resigned as the company’s director in December 2024.

The ladies are demanding an inquiry against Ali Fayed, even though Mohamed Al Fayed was never charged during his lifetime.

Amy stated, “I think he should be looked into for what he did, but I’m not sure if any charges would be brought.”

“Mr. Fayed is not a perpetrator and will not be scapegoated,” said Ali Fayed’s spokeswoman, reinforcing his denial. He will not permit false charges to remain uncontested and will vigorously defend himself against these unsupported allegations.