There are multiple Canadian women alleging they were victims of sexual abuse at the hands of the late Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed, CTV News has learned.
Allegations first surfaced as part of a BBC documentary on the Egyptian billionaire who made his fortune in the U.K. CTV News has confirmed there are Canadian women among those who spoke out.
Renowned women’s rights attorney Gloria Allred was part of the victims’ legal team, which is expected to provide more details on the investigation on Friday.
In the BBC documentary, five women alleged Al Fayed, who died last year aged 94, raped them when they worked at the luxury department store Harrods.
The U.K. outlet said it heard from more than 20 female ex-employees who allege they were sexually assaulted by the retail mogul. The incidents reportedly took place in London, Paris, St. Tropez, and Abu Dhabi.
Others have come forward since the documentary was published, the BBC reported.
Harrods released a statement on social media, writing “we are utterly appalled by the allegations.”
“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,” reads the statement, which contends “the Harrods of today is a very different organization to the one owned and controlled by Al Fayed between 1985 and 2010, it is one that seeks to put the welfare of our employees at the heart of everything we do.”
Al Fayed sold the store to a Qatari company in 2010 for around 1.5 billion pounds (C$2.7 billion).
Mohamed Al Fayed during 'Mohamed Al Fayed Opens Harrods 102' event at Harrods 102 in London, U.K. (Photo by Tomos Brangwyn/WireImage)
The retailer says settling claims quickly is a priority in order to avoid “lengthy” legal proceedings for the women involved.
“We cannot undo the past, we have been determined to do the right thing,” reads the statement.
Beyond his seat at the helm of Harrods, Al Fayed was once the owner of the Ritz Hotel in Paris and London’s Fulham Football Club, where he erected a large, sequined statue of Michael Jackson. The late pop star had once attended a game.
He started his career selling soft drinks and sewing machines before moving on to real estate, construction and shipping in the Mideast and Europe.
He also had ties to the Royal Family – his son, Dodi, was in a relationship with Diana, then-Princess of Wales, when the two were involved in the fatal car crash in 1997.
The late Queen Elizabeth II With Mohammed Al Fayed, Owner Of Harrods - The Sponsors Of The Royal Windsor Horse Show (Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
Al Fayed spent millions on legal battles in order to secure an inquest and became perhaps the world’s most high-profile conspiracy theorist on the cause of the crash, accusing the royals, then-U.K. prime minister Tony Blair and others of having a hand in the tragedy.
Despite his prominence in British culture, Al-Fayed's application for British citizenship was denied by the government in 1995.
According to the BBC, Al Fayed’s alleged victims described him as “vile” and “a monster.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual assault or trauma, the following resources are available to support people in crisis:
If you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety, you should call 911.
A full list of sexual assault centres in Canada that offer information, advocacy and counselling can be found on the website for the Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres.
Helplines, legal services and locations that offer sexual assault kits in Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia can be found here.
National Residential School Crisis Line: +1 866 925 4419
24-hour crisis line:(opens in a new tab) 416 597 8808
Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: +1 833 900 1010
Trans Lifeline: +1 877 330 6366
Sexual misconduct support for current or former members of the Armed Forces: +1 844 750 1648
Read about your rights as a victim here.
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