Al Fayed abuse survivors protest outside Harrods

Survivors of abuse allegedly perpetrated by former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed and their supporters protested outside the department store on Saturday. The group, Justice for Fayed and Harrods Survivors, stated that they are "being treated as an inconvenience" and that Harrods' "silence and delay" is causing further harm.

The demonstration took place two years after a BBC documentary exposed allegations of rape and sexual abuse. Since then, more than 400 allegations of sexual misconduct, including sexual assault, rape, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking, have been made against Al Fayed and others linked to him. These allegations date from 1977 to 2014.

Police Investigation and MP Criticism

The Metropolitan Police is investigating the allegations as part of Operation Cornpoppy, which was launched in November 2024. The investigation is examining individuals who may have facilitated or enabled Al Fayed's alleged crimes. At least 159 victims have contacted the police directly, with 21 coming forward before Al Fayed's death in 2023. Seven people have been questioned under caution as part of the inquiry.

Labour MP Dave Robertson and Liberal Democrat MP Wendy Chamberlain, co-chairs of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Survivors of Fayed and Harrods, attended the protest. They accused Harrods of wanting to "wash their hands of this scandal" and stated that most survivors do not trust the department store's compensation scheme.

The MPs said: "Harrods want to wash their hands of this scandal, they claim their compensation scheme is redress enough. We know that isn’t the case. Most survivors have not engaged with Harrods’ scheme, because they don’t trust it."

Potential Compensation and Future Actions

A law firm representing at least 275 survivors, KP Law, has estimated that total compensation could range between £100 million and £150 million. Jen Mills and Lindsay Mason, co-chairs of Justice for Fayed and Harrods Survivors, stated that survivors are "still being made to wait" and are "still being treated as an inconvenience to be managed." They added that Harrods' "continued silence and delay are not neutral; survivors experience them as further contempt."

The APPG plans to put further questions directly to Harrods regarding what its staff knew about alleged criminal activity within the department store. Keaton Stone, whose wife Sophia Stone is a survivor and whose investigation led to the 2024 BBC documentary, stated that those protesting represent hundreds more who cannot attend in person. He vowed to continue pursuing evidence and unanswered questions.