Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News Now 20240927

The bbc has heard harrowing testimony for the first time from a woman who says she was raped by the former Harrods-owner'>Harrods Owner mohamed Al Fayed when she was 16. He has said that it was. He goes on to say. The statement goes on. Lets talk through their statement and its significance with our reporter. Louise, this is a very strongly worded statement from the current boss of Harrods. Statement from the current boss of Harrods of Harrods. Absolutely, ben. This is the of Harrods. Absolutely, ben. This is the current of Harrods. Absolutely, ben. This is the current boss this is the current boss apparent distancing himself as the bus from the former boss mohamed Al Fayed and distancing his company, the business Harrods from the former. There were strongly worded statements within this. Toxic culture, he talks are, of secrecy, fear of repercussion and Sexual Misconduct. He talks of his personal horror, a very strong word, of what happened in terms of these allegations and what i need to make clear is that Michael Ward worked for mohamed Al Fayed, but as you mention, he said that he had no knowledge of any of these allegations, eitherfrom the police, cps or any internal channels. Again, he is distancing himself. Saying there was nothing he could do before the stage. Talk there was nothing he could do before the stage. Before the stage. Talk us through before the stage. Talk us through the before the stage. Talk us through the Background L before the stage. Talk us. Through the background to before the stage. Talk us through the background to this. Why has all this burst into the news now . We had a Bbc Documentary a few days ago with lots of fresh allegations against mohamed Al Fayed. Yes, and there was a period of silence between that. There was a silence from silence between that. There was a silence from Harrods-silence'>Harrods Silence between that. There was a silence from Harrods after a silence from Harrods after airing the documentary. They have got together and worked out what they wanted to say very carefully. This documentary heard from more than 20 women who said they were sexually assaulted by mohamed Al Fayed and in five women who say they were raped by him and there are allegations that we will hear potentially throughout today, more allegations in terms of theirs. This is a moving story. You can see that the grand scale of it and why Harrods needed to come out and say something. Needed to come out and say something needed to come out and say somethina. ~ ,. Something. Thank you very much indeed. That something. Thank you very much indeed. That statement something. Thank you very much indeed. That statement louise i indeed. That statement louise was just telling us about came after the bbc had heard harrowing testimony from a woman who said she was raped by the former Harrods-owner'>Harrods Owner when she was just 16 years old. Kate, which isn t her real name, is one of the five women who revealed to a Bbc Documentary team of a serious sexual attack. 0ur Correspondent Helena Wilkinson has been working with the Documentary Team and here is her report. A warning that it contains details of a serious sexual nature. Before being attacked, kate, like many women weve spoken to, was sent for intimate examinations. Kate says hers was carried out by Dr Ann Coxon. When i first started working for mohamed Al Fayed, he soon asked. Started asking me inappropriate questions. Like, did i have a boyfriend . Had i been sexually active . I was only 16 years old and i was a virgin, and he soon discovered that. So, it was organised for me to see Dr Ann Coxon of Harley Street for a medical examination. This was offered to me as a perk for working in the chairmans office. Kates new testimony adds to accounts already broadcast in the Bbc Documentary, which has started to uncover the role of other people around Al Fayed who helped facilitate his abuse. And ijust remember the doctor, you know, saying how wonderful he was, and didnt he look after his employees so well . I think the doctor who did my medical should be held accountable for providing information to mohamed, which he used to take advantage of us. Two of the doctors dr wendy snell, who has since died, and Dr Ann Coxon have been repeatedly named by the women whove spoken to the bbc. Dr coxon asked me to do an internal examination. She wanted to test for hiv and stds, but i said that i wasnt sexually active yet, so therefore it was unnecessary. My concerns were brushed off and i was told that an internal examination was necessary. According to the women weve spoken to, in many cases, their confidential medical results were sent directly to Al Fayed. 0nce Al Fayed received their results, he abused them. And one night he summoned me to his apartment. Well, i was scared, but i knew that i didnt have an option to say no. And he started to pressurise me into having sex with him, but i kept saying no. And then his mood changed and the threats started, and he had become angry. The doors were locked and i couldnt get out. Thats when he raped me. The role of the doctors has raised further questions about who else facilitated Al Fayeds abuse. Women have told the bbc that some senior pas would send them Up To his office, where they would then be abused. In previously unseen footage, one of the women, natasha, whos going to report Dr Coxon to the doctors regulator, and catherine, says others around Al Fayed have questions to answer. We were so taken advantage of, so taken advantage of, by this army of people. It was like. As you said, it was like a production line. Looking back, thats exactly what it was. The client agency, to the doctor. The doctor. The doctor. To the Lead Pa and even. To the Lead Pa and even the security guards. The security guards. What about the drivers . What about the drivers . The drivers, the security the drivers, the security guards, nobody let on. Guards, nobody let on. The bbc has contacted the bbc has contacted Dr Coxon for a comment. Dr coxon for a comment. So far, we have not so far, we have not had a response. Had a response. The growing number of women the growing number of women who accuse Al Fayed of horrific who accuse Al Fayed of horrific attacks now want those attacks now want those who enabled his abuse who enabled his abuse to be held accountable. To be held accountable. Its affected so many areas of my life, but having to live with the deep shame to live with the deep shame of what happened to me of what happened to me been from when i was young, from when i was young, being paranoid about walking by myself at night, not being paranoid about walking trusting men in any form, its changed the course its changed the course of my Life And Career of my Life And Career in its entirety. In its entirety. Just want to take you straight just want to take you straight to the Middle East now. This is to the Middle East now. This is the view of the city in the the view of the city in the south of lebanon. You can see south of lebanon. You Smoke Rising, billowing into the sky. It looks like theres continue. We are looking at live pictu the here of smoke continue. We are looking at live pictu the rhetoric;moke feels like the rhetoric is changing hour by hour. People here woke Up To the news from New York last night that world the view of the city in the south of lebanon. \that world New York last night that World Leaders had put forward a leaders had put forward a proposalfor a 21 Day Proposalfor a 21 day leaders had put forward a proposal for a 21 Day Ceasefire so talks could go on, and there leaders had put forward a proposal for a 21 Day Ceasefire so talks could go on, and there was a sense of cautious was a sense of cautious optimism that that might optimism that that might happen, but in the last hour or happen, but in the last hour or two, we had a statement from two, we had a statement from the israeli Prime Minister the israeli prime Minister Netanyahus Office saying the Netanyahus Office saying the reports of the ceasefire are reports of the ceasefire are incorrect, it is an american incorrect, it is an american and french proposal that the and french proposal that the Prime Minister has not even Prime Minister has not even responded to. The lebanese responded to. The lebanese Prime Minister has also been Prime Minister has also been speaking this morning. He will speaking this morning. He will be speaking of course at the un be speaking of course at the un general assembly. General assembly. Be speaking of course at the un generalassembly. He be speaking of course at the un general assembly. He expressed cautious optimism that there be speaking of course at the un generalassembly. He be speaking of course at the un general assembly. He expressed cautious optimism that there might be ceasefire. But might be ceasefire. But remember that in this case, we remember that in this case, we are talking about hezbollah, are talking about hezbollah, not the lebanese government. Not the lebanese government. They are similar but two very they are similar but two very different things and it wont different things and it wont be the lebanese government be the lebanese government making any decisions on whether making any decisions on whether or not to seize happens here. Or not to seize happens here. It is still being talked about it is still being talked about even as a Cross Border attacks even as a Cross Border attacks continue. We are looking at continue. We are looking at live pictures there of smoke live pictures there of Smoke Rising over higher. Science reports are more Rocket Science from lebanon into israel. And more israeli Air Attacks in south lebanon. The latest currently on the table and saying that any Attacks Ad currently on the table and saying that any attacks in more israeli Air Attacks in south lebanon. The latest figure of the Death Toll was figure of the Death Toll was 550 plus. As the day goes on, 550 plus. As the day goes on, we are hearing more and more we are hearing more and more about the rising Death Toll. About the rising Death Toll. 0ur middle East Correspondent 0ur middle East Correspondent is injerusalem. So much talk is injerusalem. So much talk and positive talk of the and positive talk of the ceasefire from you, but what is ceasefire from you, but what is the Mood Music there in israel . The Mood Music there in israel . There were some early reports there were some early reports in the there were some early reports in the israeli media saying the in the there were some early reports in the israeli media saying the prime in the israeli media saying the prime in the israeli media saying the Prime Minister given the green Prime Minister given the Green Light Prime Minister given the Green Light to Prime Minister given the Green Light Prime Minister given the Green Light to Prime Minister given the Green Light to diplomacy. It is that light to diplomacy. It is that that light to diplomacy. It is that that the that light to diplomacy. It is that that the light to diplomacy. It is that that the israeli prime Ministers Office has come out light to diplomacy. It is that that the israeli prime Ministers Office has come out with Ministers Office has come out with a Ministers Office has come out with Ministers Office has come out with a Ministers Office has come out with a statement trying to put with a statement trying to put the facts with a statement trying to put the facts straight saying the the facts with a statement trying to put the facts straight saying the prime prime the facts straight saying the Prime Minister is not even the facts straight saying the Prime Minister is not even responded to what is a proposal responded to what is a proposal coming responded to what is a proposal coming responded to what is a proposal coming from the us and france, coming from the us and france, currently coming from the us and france, currently coming from the us and france, currently on the table and currently on the table and saying currently on the table and saying that any purported saying currently on the table and saying that any purported directed to calm the violent in the north directed to calm the violent in the north is the opposite of the north is the opposite of the truth. The israeli military has been the truth. The israeli military has been told to carry on with Full Force has been told to carry on with Full Force. That is after a brief Full Force. That is after a Brief Lull Full Force. That is after a Brief Lull in what we have been seeing Brief Lull in what we have been seeing on Brief Lull in what we have been seeing on the ground. Exchanges of fire, seeing on the ground. Exchanges of fire, in seeing on the ground. Exchanges of fire, in colluding the syria and of fire, in colluding the Syria And Lebanon border crossing, targeted and lebanon border crossing, targeted by the israeli forces saying targeted by the israeli forces saying they were using it to transport weapons for hezbollah. There is pessimism on the hezbollah. There is pessimism on the idea of a ceasefire at this on the idea of a ceasefire at this point. On the idea of a ceasefire at this point this point. Stay with us, we will continue this point. Stay with us, we will continue the this point. Stay with us, we i will continue the conversation we say goodbye to viewers who have been with us on bbc two. We say goodbye to viewers who have how with us on bbc two. We say goodbye to viewers who have how thei us on bbc two. We say goodbye to viewers who have how the Ceasefire C two. About how the Ceasefire Proposal made by World Leaders at the un is being received in israel. Benjamin netanyahu, who is on its way there now. What kind of conversations do you think you will be giving behind the scenes . I think you will be giving behind the scenes . Think you will be giving behind the scenes . , the scenes . I mean certainly we know this the scenes . I mean certainly we know this has the scenes . I mean certainly we know this has been the scenes . I mean certainly we know this the scenes . I mean certainly we know this has the scenes . I mean certainly we know this has been the scenes . I mean certainly we know this has been a the scenes . I mean certainly we know this has been a the scenes . I mean certainly we know this has been a statement| know this has been a statement that we had many of israels the scenes . I mean certainly we know this has been a statement| know this has been a statement that we had many of israels important allies, chief among important allies, chief among them the us signing Up To. Them the us signing Up To. There will be a lot of there will be a lot of international pressure on mr international pressure on Mr Netanyahu to agree to some Sort Netanyahu to agree to some sort of diplomatic solution on of diplomatic solution on israel has been saying that it israel has been saying that it is ready for a diplomatic is ready for a diplomatic solution, as much as it solution, as much as it threatens to go after hezbollah threatens to go after hezbollah through military means, its through military means, its stated goal here is different stated goal here is different from that in gaza where it says from that in gaza where it says it wants to destroy hamas, to it wants to destroy hamas, to dismantle its military and dismantle its military and political capabilities. When it political capabilities. When it comes to hezbollah, they are comes to hezbollah, they are saying their goal is to return saying their goal is to return about 60,000 israeli civilians about 60,000 israeli civilians forced from their forced from their homes through 11 months of Cross Border fighting back to the homes they come from. They want them to be able to be there safely and they believe that will involve setting up a Buffer Zone in southern lebanon. That is in accordance with the un Security Council Resolution that ended the war between Israel And Hezbollah that was so damaging and that thank you forjoining us. Our middle East Correspondent live injerusalem. She was talking about the warfrom injerusalem. She was talking about the war from both sides in 2006 and the memories it holds. That is why since these attacks, the Air Strike started in earnest, they have been going for four days now, in earnest, they have been going forfour days now, we have seen so many tens of thousands of people leaving the south of lebanon. Eva homsi is the Emergency Coordinator at the ngo shield. She is trying to help the displaced people. What have you been seeing and hearing in the last few days . Last few days . Hello and thank ou. In last few days . Hello and thank you. In general last few days . Hello and thank you. In generalthe last few days . Hello and thank you. In general the situation i you. In general the situation in south you. In general the situation in south lebanon, as you can see in south lebanon, as you can see there in south lebanon, as you can see there is a lot of movement and displacement. More than 70,000 and displacement. More than 70,000 families are displaced now all 70,000 families are displaced now all over lebanon, Inside Beirut now all over lebanon, Inside Beirut and other places. I can talk beirut and other places. I can talk a beirut and other places. I can talk a little bit more about the remaining population and all along the borderline, where there all along the borderline, where there is all along the borderline, where there is around now 6200 families there is around now 6200 families still there. Here we can say families still there. Here we can say that it is an isolated area can say that it is an isolated Area Due can say that it is an isolated Area Due to the roadblocks caused Area Due to the roadblocks caused by the Air Strikes making caused by the Air Strikes making access impossible for the supplies. For now, no bread, the supplies. For now, no bread, no the supplies. For now, no bread, no water, nothing is accessible to this area. The shops accessible to this area. The shops will be empty in four days shops will be empty in four days. And the people are really afraid days. And the people are really afraid of days. And the people are really afraid of not being able to receive afraid of not being able to receive any assistance. Although the government is doing although the government is doing a although the government is doing a greatjob with although the government is doing a great job with the capacity that they have in managing this crisis, all the international ngos, Un Agencies and locai international ngos, Un Agencies and local ngos are doing our best. And local ngos are doing our best. But and local ngos are doing our best, but it is not easy to respond best, but it is not easy to respond to. There is fear, uncertainty, a lack of access to services, people are not able to services, people are not able to to services, people are not able to reach their Health And Medication services. Neither Food Medication services. Neither food assistance. They are afraid food assistance. They are afraid for not being able to receive afraid for not being able to receive the assistance because now the receive the assistance because now the only road available is under now the only road available is under threat. We as an n60, i am from under threat. We as an n60, i am from the shield association, and other am from the shield association, and other n605, we are trying our best and other n605, we are trying our best to reach these areas, our best to reach these areas, our locai our best to reach these areas, our local staff are stuck here with our local staff are stuck here with no our local staff are stuck here with no accessibility to move outside with no accessibility to move outside. Forthe with no accessibility to move outside. For the displacement, it is really outside. For the displacement, it is really hard. All the displaced people are also facing displaced people are also facing lots of challenges. The capacity facing lots of challenges. The capacity of the N605 And Vi Ngos Capacity of the N605 And Vi n605 with the government is not enough n605 with the government is not enough to n605 with the government is not enough to cover the basic needs enough to cover the basic needs. Even mattresses, we can see now needs. Even mattresses, we can see now my needs. Even mattresses, we can see now my colleagues and i went see now my colleagues and i went on see now my colleagues and i went on a see now my colleagues and i went on a field, there are people went on a field, there are people sleeping without mattresses or blankets at parking mattresses or blankets at Parking Lots and other areas. The Parking Lots and other areas. The government has a ready opened the government has a ready opened schools as shelters, churches, mosques, there is solidarity, churches, mosques, there is solidarity, but no capacity. Can solidarity, but no capacity. Can i solidarity, but no capacity. Can i ask solidarity, but no capacity. Can i ask you, do you mind . I hope you dont mind, i wanted to ask, what would. You talk about the challenges you are facing, they are significant challenges, what you need to be to happen to get to people . Is it a lack of clearing the roads . What you need to solve the issue . The issue . Unfortunately, the normal road the issue . Unfortunately, the normal road is the issue . Unfortunately, the normal road is not the issue . Unfortunately, the| normal road is not accessible, not only normal road is not accessible, not only due to clearing the roads. Not only due to clearing the roads, but the Air Strikes are everywhere and any time, it is not expected or calculated any more not expected or calculated any more we not expected or calculated any more. We use to calculate the risk, more. We use to calculate the risk, but more. We use to calculate the risk, but now it is not calculated. We are trying to coordinate with intelligence to have coordinate with intelligence to have a coordinate with intelligence to have A Road through the Car Area have A Road through the Car Area it have A Road through the Car Area. It would be more difficult area. It would be more difficult to get to other villagers for the same reason because villagers for the same reason because the only road available is through a risky Area Due to the security situation. We can only the security situation. We can only manage coordination. Yes only manage coordination. Yes yes only manage coordination. Yes. Yes. Thank you so much for joining us. Lets speak also to frank gardner, our security correspondent. Lets talk first of all about the Ceasefire Proposal. In your assessment, what is the likelihood of that being adopted . What is the likelihood of that being adopted . Slim, to put it bluntl. Being adopted . Slim, to put it bluntly. There being adopted . Slim, to put it bluntly. There is being adopted . Slim, to put it bluntly. There is a being adopted . Slim, to put it bluntly. There is a kind being adopted . Slim, to put it bluntly. There is a kind of bluntly. There is a kind of momentum now in the israeli military. They feel they have hezbollah on the back foot, they have caused catastrophic damage in the last few days, they have not eliminated it, theyd know that hezbollah has a lot of facilities dug underground in the Hard Rock of lebanon, they want to go in and deal with that. In the absence of hezbollah, surrendering or not surrendering but rather giving up and agreeing to a ceasefire, giving up on stopping, i think that is unlikely because it would politically be very difficult for their hezbollah leader to do because hundreds if not thousands of his people have been killed or wounded, and they are demanding revenge. Hezbollah because my attitude is bring it on, invade lebanon. This is ourfight on our turf. There is a rising crescendo of drumbeat towards a full Scale Incursion into south lebanon. The idea of a ceasefire, whether it is 21 days or even around that period, that is pretty optimistic to think that you can achieve in that time what the worlds top Middle East negotiators have not been able to achieve in 11 months, which is a ceasefire in gaza. Thats when it comes to. Hezbollah says they will stop firing over the border once a ceasefire was agreed in gaza. But that seems to be very elusive, the ceasefire in gaza. Why because the two top people who could say yes to that are saying no. That is benjamin netanyahu, the Prime Minister of israel and the leader of hamas. There are reasons on both sides why they dont want to agree to that ceasefire. There are israeli hostages stuck probably in tunnels in gaza, lebanese civilians are being killed alongside hezbollah and rockets are still falling in northern israel. And, frank, just briefly, the idf said these attacks, they are preparatory attacks for a possible ground invasion, but do we know what the remaining Military Force of hezbollah is . No and they will keep that l closely guarded secret. The beginning of this, conservatively it was estimated that hezbollah had just over 20,000 fighters. It was said recently that it was 100,000. It would be somewhere between those figures. They are highly trained, a lot of them have been fighting in syria against the insurgency, they had iranian weapons, they are specialists in ambush and have a lot of stuff underground, ready to ambush and invading israeli force. They wont be a pushover by any means, even though they have been severely damaged in the last few days. Frank, thank you forjoining us. I really appreciate your insight as ever. Frank gardner, our security correspondent. We will continue to watch the situation in New York later today when the us wakes up and those discussions about a Ceasefire Continue, as we were saying a little earlier with their lebanese Prime Minister saying he was hopeful, but of course the israeli Prime Minister giving it a very different Message And Rhetoric saying that israel would continue to fight with Full Force. The lebanese Health Ministry says 20 people, nearly all syrians were killed in a fresh strike this morning. We will keep you Up To date with the developing story. Stay with us on bbc news. We have had some wet weather pushing northwards through the course of this morning, and this afternoon it is going to start to retreat southwards once again. Low pressure is driving our weather. We have got various Weather Fronts producing rain or showers, and this north easterly wind across the north of scotland also dragging in some showers and that chilly wind. So, here we have the rain across northern england, also northern ireland, moving out of Southern Scotland through the day, and then eventually out of northern england, as it sinks south. Ahead of it, for the south of england and wales, it is a mixture of sunshine, with some heavy showers, which could have some Hail And Thunder and lightning in them. Brighter skies in the north, but this of course is where we have the cool wind. The Met Office has and then be prepared warning, running from six oclock this evening until six oclock this evening until six oclock this evening until six oclock in the morning for the central and southern midlands. We could have as much to 30 or a0 millimetres falling in three hours. You can see how it pushes southwards. In six hours, we could have double the amount. It will lead again to issues with flooding. We had that, we are looking at clearer skies, showers and windy down the North Sea coastline. Temperatures between five and ten of 11 degrees. That takes us into tomorrow. We have got the remnants of the rain pulling away from the South East. That opens the doors to a northerly wind and it will feel colder tomorrow. You can see how we have the cloud and the Rain Clearing East anglia and South East england. Behind that, a return to sunshine and a few showers, but it will be a windy day, a brisk wind taking the edge of temperatures that are lower anyway. We are looking at nine to about 13, may be 15 at best. As we head through the weekend, we have this ridge of High Pressure, settling things for a time and a Weather Front in the north of scotland. On saturday that Weather Front will produce showery outbreaks rain, a cold start with widespread outbreaks of frost, turning the Sunshine Hazy in places, but the winds will be lighter. Temperatures are very similar to what we are looking at on friday. Nine to about 15 degrees. As we move on to sunday, the High Pressure pushes away the rain from the far north of scotland, a drier interlude and then we have a Heavy Rain and strong winds coming in from the South West and they will be pushing northwards and eastwards through the rest of the day and into monday. This is bbc news, the headlines. The current boss of Harrods apologises after Sexual Misconduct allegations about the former owner mohamed Al Fayed. Israels Prime Minister tells the military to keep Fighting Hezbollah with full Force But World leaders call for a ceasefire. Meanwhile, israel is continuing to attack hezbollah targets in lebanon hitting more than 75 sites overnight. And injapan, the worlds longest serving prisoner on Death Row has been acquitted more than a half a century after his conviction. Florida braces for the arrival of Hurricane Helene which could hit at category three strength or even higher. Ukraines President Zelensky has thanked Joe Biden for a new Military Package which is worth more than 8 billion. It is still not clear whether mr zelensky� s trip to the White House will help them to get to the Green Light