Mohamed Al Fayed investigation: New sex assault claim against former Harrods boss accused of rapes

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A new sex assault claim has been made against Mohamed Al Fayed after an investigation into the former Harrods owner was published. open image in gallery Fayed was described by one woman as a “monster” who treated Harrods staff as his “playthings” After the publication of the investigation on Thursday, a woman who the BBC is calling Melanie came forward to say she had been subjected to a “sickening” sexual assault by the Egyptian billionaire. Another woman who said Fayed raped her when she was a teenager branded him a “monster, a sexual predator with no moral compass whatsoever”, who treated Harrods staff as his “playthings”. If he said ‘jump’, employees would ask ‘how high?’” open image in gallery Harrods was owned by Mohamed Al Fayed for 25 years Bruce Drummond, who works for a firm representing some of the affected women, said: “The spider’s web of corruption and abuse in this company was unbelievable and very dark.” Following the new allegation, Harrods’ current owners said they stood by a statement issued on Thursday which said they were “utterly appalled” by the allegations of abuse.