Allegations Surface Against Fayed Brothers in Expanding Harrods Abuse Scandal

As allegations of sexual assault mount against the Fayed brothers, former personal assistant Amy McIlquham recounts her harrowing experience during a work trip in Switzerland in the 1990s.

In a disturbing twist to an already burgeoning scandal, allegations of sexual assault are now directed towards all three Fayed brothers, former owners of the iconic London department store Harrods. It began with billionaire Mohamed al-Fayed but has rapidly expanded to encompass his younger siblings, Salah and Ali.

Amy McIlquham, now 52, recalls her traumatic experience when she was just 21 years old. Having recently joined Harrods in 1993, she quickly rose through the ranks to become a personal assistant for Mohamed al-Fayed. In early 1994, she was invited to Gstaad, Switzerland, on a work trip that turned dark.

Upon arriving, she discovered she would be solely overseeing Ali Fayed, an older brother in his early 50s at that time. With no work tasks to speak of, she soon found herself alone at the chalet with Ali and a housekeeper. It was there, she recounts, that she was subjected to unwanted advances.

Describing her experience in vivid detail, McIlquham spoke of Ali’s inappropriate behavior in and around the chalet’s swimming pool, recalling her horror at being groped, while he continued to laugh. "I was molested, sexually molested, without a doubt," she stated, recalling the weekend in late April 1994, as the Eurovision Song Contest played in the background.

The situation marks a profound shift not just for McIlquham’s life, but for the legacy of the Fayed family, transforming their affluent image into one burdened by serious accusations. As the investigation unfolds, many are left questioning the culture within elite circles where such conduct went unchallenged for so long.