Five women accuse late Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed of rape

More than 20 women, all former employees of Mohamed Al-Fayed, told BBC they were raped or sexually abused by the Egypt-born businessman and ex-owner of Harrods while accusing the famous luxury department store of covering it up.

Lawyers representing the women — five of which claim they were raped, and 16 who were allegedly sexually abused by Al-Fayed — said the case was akin to the crimes of sex offenders who were well-known celebrities, such as Jimmy Savile, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein.

At a press briefing in London on Friday in the wake of the BBC documentary “Al-Fayed: Predator At Harrods,” the lawyers described Al-Fayed, who died last year at the age of 94, as a “monster" who abused young women and girls who worked at the department store during his 25-year ownership.

“This case combines some of the most horrific elements of the cases involving Jimmy Savile, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein," said lead lawyer Dean Armstrong. “Savile because in this case, as in that, the institution, we say, knew about the behaviour."

"Epstein because in that case, as in this, there was a procurement system in place to source the women and girls — as you know, there are some very young victims. And Weinstein, because it was a person at the very top of the organisation who was abusing his power," he added.

One of Al-Fayed’s alleged victims, who went by the name Natacha, told the press conference that the billionaire businessman was “highly manipulative" and "preyed on the most vulnerable, those of us who needed to pay the rent and some of us who didn’t have parents to protect them.”

In a statement given to the BBC documentary, the new owners of Harrods, who bought out Al-Fayed in 2010, said they were “utterly appalled” by the allegations of abuse but added that they were only made aware of them last year.

“While we cannot undo the past, we have been determined to do the right thing as an organisation, driven by the values we hold today while ensuring that such behaviour can never be repeated in the future," the owners said.

However, Armstrong queried Harrods' claim that it knew nothing, as sexual allegations had been made against Al-Fayed for decades.

“We are here to say publicly and to the world, or to Harrods in front of the world, that it is time that they took responsibility, and it is time that they set matters right, and that is something they should do as soon as possible,” he said.

US lawyer Gloria Allred, who has represented victims in some of the most notorious sexual abuse cases in recent years, including Epstein, Weinstein and Bill Cosby, also spoke.

“Harrods is often referred to as the most beautiful store in the world and many women dreamed of working there, to be associated with this prestigious corporation and to further their careers," she said. "However, underneath the Harrods glitz and glamour was a toxic, unsafe and abusive environment.”

Mohamed Al-Fayed, also known as Mou Mou, has faced repeated allegations since at least 1997 of using his wealth and stature to engage in sexual harassment, abuse and rape, sometimes involving minors.

In addition to Harrods, Al-Fayed owned the famous luxury Ritz hotel in Paris and the Premier League football club Fulham.