Laura had been working directly for Mohamed Al Fayed in Harrods’ HR department and says his sexual harassment towards her had become commonplace, escalating to two serious sexual assaults.
Laura says Mohamed sent her to their office building in Park Lane one evening, but when she arrived there was no work to be done. She says she was sent through to Ali Fayed’s apartment where he was waiting. Laura says he told her they would be having dinner, and then presented her with a bottle of wine from the year she was born and a necklace.
“I wondered how he knew things about me,” she says.
Alone in his apartment, Laura says Ali Fayed ordered her through to the bedroom where she says she was subjected to a serious sexual assault. She says she felt “numbed with fear” and had to do whatever she was told in order to “get out of there”.
“Afterwards he just told me I could go.”
Laura says she never saw Ali Fayed again but kept the necklace from that night and it has recently been valued at £6,500.
The abuse at Harrods “took its toll” says Laura – even after she left the store. She bottled it all up for 25 years, she says, and still hasn’t told some of her loved ones what she went through.
All three women are pursuing civil legal action against Harrods through Justice for Harrods Survivors.
“We applaud the bravery of the women who have spoken out on their allegations against Ali Fayed and reiterate our commitment to securing justice and accountability for all survivors,” says their barrister Maria Mulla.
“We repeat, no stone will be left unturned in pursuit of this aim.”
The BBC spoke to three other women who said they had been either raped, sexually assaulted or trafficked by the other Fayed brother, Salah, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2010.
The women who accuse Ali Fayed question what the three brothers knew about each other’s behaviour.
“Looking back now, maybe they found it amusing to see how far the boundaries were with us between the brothers,” says Amy. “Maybe there was competition. I really don’t know, but I do feel it was all amusing for them.”
Ali Fayed’s spokesperson says he “unequivocally denies any and all allegations of wrongdoing. The alleged incidents simply never occurred. Mr Fayed is not a perpetrator and will not be scapegoated. He will robustly defend himself against these unsubstantiated claims and will not allow false accusations to go unchallenged.”
It is understood the Met Police has not recorded any allegations of sexual offending against Ali Fayed.
A Met spokesperson told the BBC that the police force urged “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.
“We have specialist detectives who regularly handle sensitive cases and can provide survivors with access to support services. Every report will be carefully evaluated and recorded, and survivors are encouraged to use the secure channels provided to share their experiences.”
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