At least 60 women have come forward, accusing former Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed of sexual abuse, according to legal representatives. The allegations surfaced after a BBC documentary aired claims of rape and sexual misconduct by Al-Fayed, who passed away last year at 94. The women allege that the abuse occurred during his ownership of the iconic luxury department store.

Lawyers representing the survivors have confirmed that more cases are likely to follow. These accusations extend beyond Harrods, involving other properties and businesses owned by Al-Fayed, including Fulham Football Club. The global scale of the claims highlights the widespread nature of the reported abuse.

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Despite evidence presented in the past, British prosecutors did not pursue charges against Al-Fayed. In 2008, he was accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl, and in 2013, a woman came forward with claims of rape. The Crown Prosecution Service chose not to press charges, stating there was no “realistic prospect of conviction” in either case.

Michael Ward, Harrods’ Managing Director during Al-Fayed’s tenure, described the environment as one of “secrecy, intimidation, and fear.” He noted that while misconduct was suspected, he was unaware of the criminal activities alleged by the women.

Survivors claim that attempts to report the abuse were met with invasive examinations and threats by senior security staff. Al-Fayed, who sold Harrods to Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund for £1.5 billion ($2.2 billion), was also the owner of Fulham Football Club at the time many of these incidents allegedly occurred.