Latest news with #Al-Fayed
Fashion Network
2 days ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Nearly 150 people report crimes by ex-Harrods boss to UK police
At least 146 people have been in touch with UK police alleging crimes by former Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed since authorities opened a new probe last year, the Metropolitan Police confirmed on Wednesday. "The live investigation into those who could have facilitated or enabled Mohamed Al Fayed's offending continues," the London police force said in a statement shared with AFP. An investigation aired by the BBC last September detailed allegations that the late Egyptian businessman, who died in 2023 aged 94, had raped and sexually assaulted several young women employed at upscale London department store Harrods. Scotland Yard is now reviewing how it handled previous investigations into Al-Fayed to identify any "missed opportunities" and has opened a new probe into sexual assault claims, including into those who enabled the alleged offences. The police updated 146 victims who have come forwards to report alleged crimes in a briefing on Monday -- the nature of which was not clarified. "We continue to support all victims and we urge anyone with information, whether they were directly affected by Mohamed Al Fayed's actions or aware of others who may have been involved, or committed offences to come forward," police said in a statement. Last November, the Met said it had been approached by and had identified dozens of potential victims of sexual assault and other offences at the hands of the late billionaire following a public appeal. Harrods, which Al-Fayed owned from 1985 to 2010, announced a compensation scheme in March for women who were employed at the store or connected to it and allege that they were abused by the former boss. More than 100 alleged victims had applied for the redress scheme by July, the luxury store said.
Fashion Network
2 days ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Nearly 150 people report crimes by ex-Harrods boss to UK police
At least 146 people have been in touch with UK police alleging crimes by former Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed since authorities opened a new probe last year, the Metropolitan Police confirmed on Wednesday. "The live investigation into those who could have facilitated or enabled Mohamed Al Fayed's offending continues," the London police force said in a statement shared with AFP. An investigation aired by the BBC last September detailed allegations that the late Egyptian businessman, who died in 2023 aged 94, had raped and sexually assaulted several young women employed at upscale London department store Harrods. Scotland Yard is now reviewing how it handled previous investigations into Al-Fayed to identify any "missed opportunities" and has opened a new probe into sexual assault claims, including into those who enabled the alleged offences. The police updated 146 victims who have come forwards to report alleged crimes in a briefing on Monday -- the nature of which was not clarified. "We continue to support all victims and we urge anyone with information, whether they were directly affected by Mohamed Al Fayed's actions or aware of others who may have been involved, or committed offences to come forward," police said in a statement. Last November, the Met said it had been approached by and had identified dozens of potential victims of sexual assault and other offences at the hands of the late billionaire following a public appeal. Harrods, which Al-Fayed owned from 1985 to 2010, announced a compensation scheme in March for women who were employed at the store or connected to it and allege that they were abused by the former boss. More than 100 alleged victims had applied for the redress scheme by July, the luxury store said.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Nearly 150 people report crimes by ex-Harrods boss Al-Fayed to UK police
LONDON: At least 146 people have been in touch with UK police alleging crimes by former Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed since authorities opened a new probe last year, the Metropolitan Police confirmed on Wednesday. "The live investigation into those who could have facilitated or enabled Mohamed Al Fayed's offending continues," the London police force said in a statement shared with AFP. An investigation aired by the BBC last September detailed allegations that the late Egyptian businessman, who died in 2023 aged 94, had raped and sexually assaulted several young women employed at upscale London department store Harrods. Scotland Yard is now reviewing how it handled previous investigations into Al-Fayed to identify any "missed opportunities" and has opened a new probe into sexual assault claims, including into those who enabled the alleged offences. The police updated 146 victims who have come forwards to report alleged crimes in a briefing on Monday – the nature of which was not clarified. "We continue to support all victims and we urge anyone with information, whether they were directly affected by Mohamed Al Fayed's actions or aware of others who may have been involved, or committed offences to come forward," police said in a statement. Last November, the Met said it had been approached by and had identified dozens of potential victims of sexual assault and other offences at the hands of the late billionaire following a public appeal. Harrods, which Al-Fayed owned from 1985 to 2010, announced a compensation scheme in March for women who were employed at the store or connected to it and allege that they were abused by the former boss.
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Scots think tank backs plans to ban NDAs in sexual harassment cases
She said: 'One of the main problems women in the workplace face is that sexual harassment has been normalised to the point of invisibility, and is often dismissed and ignored. "That creates barriers to reporting. Lots of surveys have shown that sexual harassment is underreported, that's often because people lack confidence in the reporting procedure. 'Women constantly talk about fearing what would happen to them reputationally if they speak out. They could be victimised and lose their career. Women see other people reporting sexual harassment and nothing happens." Anna Ritchie Allan is CEO of Close the Gap. (Image: Supplied) Allan's claims are backed up by research from Unite the Union. A nationwide survey of more than 1000 members found that 46% of women reported unwanted flirting or sexual remarks from colleagues, while almost 10% of women had been sexually assaulted at work. 52% said they had been the recipient of sexually offensive jokes, and 38% of respondents claimed they had been touched inappropriately. However, three-quarters of respondents said they had not reported the incidents to superiors. In July, the government added an amendment to the Employment Rights Act which would ban the use of non-disclosure agreements that are used to silence employees from speaking out against sexual harassment or abuse. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said at the time: 'We have heard the calls from victims of harassment and discrimination to end the misuse of NDAs. 'It is time we stamped this practice out – and this government is taking action to make that happen. The Employment Rights Bill will ban any NDA used for this purpose, so that no one is forced to suffer in silence.' Allan strongly supports the legislation, which she said will 'allow the law to catch up'. 'Currently, there is very little case law about sexual harassment and few cases make it to tribunal. This is mainly because of non-disclosure agreements. 'The push against non-disclosure agreements came off the back of the Me Too movement. NDAs had been widely used to pay women who had encountered sexual misconduct at work.' Allan pointed to the case of Mohammed Al-Fayed, the wealthy Egyptian businessman who owned Harrods and Fulham FC. After Al-Fayed's death in 2023, dozens of women spoke out, accusing the billionaire of sexual harassment and assault. Disgraced billionaire Mohammed Al-Fayed has been accused of sexual misconduct from dozens of women. Lawyers acting on behalf of the women called on Harrods to reveal how many people had been silenced by Al-Fayed after being coerced into signing NDAs in exchange for money. The department store said they did not plan to enforce any agreements signed under Al-Fayed's ownership. Allan said: 'There's been a campaign run to influence Labour and it is quite significant that they have acted. 'It speaks to the power imbalance of those who have money to pay off women who they have abused.' Indeed, a wider point about the power dynamics of abuse can be made, Allan said, noting: 'Women who are minorities are more likely to experience sexual harassment. Bullying and harassment is not seen as a gendered phenomenon. There is a lack of awareness and it is difficult to challenge, so there needs to be strong leadership signalling it will not be tolerated 'A lot of women in public sector jobs have to deal with third party harassment from clients and service users. We need to make sure that the liability for this is on employers, who must make sure women are safe at work. 'Sexual harassment is not seen as a health and safety issue. It should be seen as a workplace injury, not just as an equality issue.' Angela Rayner has announced proposed changes to the law. There are a number of problems with current sexual harassment safeguarding, Allan said. 'First, sexual harassment is not very well understood. Unwelcome jokes or comments of a sexual nature, as well as inappropriate touching and shoulder rubs are all issues. People can often be nervous to report this to line managers. 'Employers need to have a stand alone sexual harassment policy.' That is why Close the Gap is working with employers to provide training to line managers and staff on how to combat harassment in the workplace. Allan added: 'We piloted the programme in local government, and then expanded to the NHS. Now, we have accredited 18 employers, with another 17 working towards accreditation. 40 others engage with us around best practice.' Read more: 'Urgent action needed': Education Secretary under pressure over pupil sex harassment Ten per cent of Scottish women 'sexually assaulted at work' Analysis: Why are women in Scottish politics still facing hurdles in 2025? Campaigners have also praised the decision to include the provision in the bill, which is currently being considered in the House of Lords after passing its third reading in the House of Commons last March. Zelda Perkins, Founder of the campaign Can't Buy My Silence UK, said: 'This is a huge milestone, for years, we've heard empty promises from governments whilst victims have continued to be silenced, to see this Government accept the need for nationwide legal change shows that they have listened and understood the abuse of power taking place. 'Above all, though, this victory belongs to the people who broke their NDAs, who risked everything to speak the truth when they were told they couldn't. Without their courage, none of this would be happening.'
NDTV
23-06-2025
- NDTV
Mohamed Fayed Paid Egyptian Spies Millions To Probe Diana's Death Conspiracy
Mohamed Al-Fayed, whose son Emad El-Din "Dodi" Mohamed Fayed was killed in a car crash alongside Princess Diana, paid Egyptian secret service agents millions in exchange for information about the death of the Princess of Wales. The former Harrods boss spent close to a decade funneling money to the Egyptian spies in London, via a secret network of companies, according to a report in The Telegraph. Al-Fayed, who died in 2023, aged 94, was desperate to obtain secret intelligence about the death of his eldest son and Prince Diana in the 1997 Paris car crash. He had been convinced that the British bourgeois class feared that an Egyptian could be the possible stepfather to the future king. "Sources say he hoped to receive confirmation from Egyptian secret service operatives of his belief that the British intelligence services had a hand in the fatal crash in the Alma tunnel," the report highlighted, adding that at one point, he told the spies that British intelligence had his son killed. Despite Al-Fayed's beliefs in the conspiracy, Sir John Stevens, the former Metropolitan Police commissioner, laid bare the truth in his three-year Operation Paget investigation. Sir John concluded that the pair died as a result of an accident for which the driver, Henri Paul, was responsible. Paul was reportedly three times over the alcohol limit and overspeeding at the time of the accident. Allegations against Al-Fayed Last year, Al-Fayed, was accused of rape by more than 100 women, dating back to the 1970s. Last year, the BBC released a documentary titled Al-Fayed: Predator at Harrods, revealing the murkier things that happened during Al-Fayed's ownership, where Harrods not only failed to intervene but helped cover up abuse allegations. One woman alleged that the billionaire raped her at his London apartment. "I made it obvious that I didn't want that to happen. I did not give consent. I just wanted it to be over," she said. Al-Fayed, born in Egypt, moved to the United Kingdom in 1974 and was already a well-known public figure when he took over Harrods in 1985. In recent years, the new generation has come to him through the Netflix series The Crown.
