London, United Kingdom

British model Bianca Gascoigne has come out publicly to accuse Mohamed al-Fayed, the late owner of Harrods, of grooming and sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager employed at the luxury department store.

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Speaking to Sky News on Monday (Oct 21), the daughter of former footballer Paul Gascoigne recalled how Fayed tried to force her into sexual acts after offering her an apartment room for a night's stay when she was around 16 years of age.

Also read: Mohamed Al Fayed was a rapist? 20 women come out against father of Lady Diana's boyfriend Dodi Al Fayed

She said Fayed, who used to be charming and generous to her and family, made a surprise visit to the apartment, and made sexual advances.

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She said Fayed turned up at the apartment to her shock. "I was just gobsmacked, I was kind of very shell-shocked, I just didn't really know what to do," she told the channel.

In her telling, Fayad tried to push her hands to his private parts after exposing himself, and at one point pushed her head to his lap.

"And I don't know how but I managed to wiggle away...And I think possibly you know, that him knowing my parents ... I don't know, that might have saved me at that moment. But it was horrific."

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Also read: Over 60 more women accuse ex-Harrods owner Al-Fayed of sexual abuse

The 37-year-old model opened up about the ordeal in the wake of scores of complaints against Fayed who died at the age of 94 in 2023.

The sexual assault claims range from misconduct to rape, and lasted over decades. 

The current owners of Harrods are settling more than 250 compensation claims from sexual assault survivors including incidents recounted in a BBC documentary, Al Fayed: Predator At Harrods. 

Watch: Sean 'Diddy' Combs Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Minor

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The documentary had interviews and stories of several women who faced sexual misconduct over decades from the Egyptian-origin businessman, whose son Dodi was once the boyfriend of Princess Diana. They both died together in a Paris car crash.

Harrods said several former staff came forward after the airing of the documentary which led the luxury department store to facilitate direct settlement processes. 

The Metropolitan Police have initiated a thorough review of allegations against Fayed.

It is looking into whether to charge him based on allegations made by two out of 21 women who reported abuse from 2005 to 2023. 

(With inputs from agencies)