Robot seized by German police after allegedly groping 16-year-old girl
Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault which some readers may find distressing.
German authorities have launched an investigation into possible sexual harassment after a robot controlled by two young men groped a teenage girl, according to police.
Police in Cologne responded after the incident, which took place last Saturday night (10 October), in which the robot’s suspected 16-year-old owner and a 19-year-old companion were said to have filmed the alleged assault.
They were said to have streamed the incident and commented on it online.
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Cologne police spokesman Christoph Bermel said the two male teenagers have not been charged but are considered suspects, and investigators are examining whether the robot’s movements were pre-programmed or controlled in real time.
Police were unfamiliar with this type of incident, he said.
"We have not been aware of this phenomenon so far," Mr Bermel said, adding that it was 'new territory for us'.
Emergency teams that were dispatched to the scene near a fast-food restaurant found the robot in the boot of a vehicle, Cologne police said on Monday (12 October).
The robot and the two young men’s mobile phones were confiscated.
North Rhine-Westphalia Police Cologne took to Facebook to share an image of the red and gold robot, which could be seen lying on the ground with its arms splayed outwards.
The robot, said to be 3 ft 11 in tall, was dressed in a white tank top, black bottoms and wearing a large gold chain and sunglasses.
It also had what appeared to be a fake moustache.
Videos circulated on the internet show two young men escorting the robot toward a group of women, bumping into one and hugging others, on a lively night-time street.
One of the men repeatedly shouts at the robot and pulls it backwards after it makes sexual gestures, prompting laughter among people in the area.
The full statement, translated from German, reads: "Suspected remotely controlled robot grabs 16-year-old's buttocks - Police seize unusual evidence.
"A red-gold robot triggered a police operation on the Cologne Ring on Sunday night (October 11). The device is said to have touched a 16-year-old girl's buttocks and performed thrusting movements against her.
"The 16-year-old owner of the robot and his 19-year-old companion are said to have filmed the alleged assault, streamed it live on social media, and moderated it.
"According to preliminary findings, the teenager was with her 17 and 18-year-old girlfriends between 11:45 p.m. and midnight at a fast-food restaurant on Palmstraße/Hohenzollernring corner. "The approximately 1.20-meter-long robot allegedly approached the 16-year-old from behind and performed the actions.
"Shortly after, alerted emergency services arrived at the corner of Magnusstraße/Hohenzollernring. The robot was found in the trunk of a VW. The 16-year-old had previously stored the device in it.
"The police are now investigating how the robot worked at the time of the assault and whether someone was deliberately controlling its movements. Emergency services seized the robot and two mobile phones from the suspect. The police are investigating on suspicion of defamation on a sexual basis."
On the police’s Facebook account on Tuesday (13 October), officers criticised inappropriate comments and warned that sharing or joking about such incidents can worsen the impact on any victim.
"Regarding the so-called robot fall in Cologne, we don't want to waste many words, but rather let our Reel speak for itself," the account captioned a short clip.
"Some behaviours or comments under social media posts are not trivial at all, but can be a crossing of the line and, in the worst case, a criminal offence.
"We don't want to stir up moralising, but today maybe just encourage some reflection. The personal freedom of others deserves respect."
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818, available 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3pm on Fridays, 10am-12.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm-8pm on Sundays.
Topics: News, Technology, Crime, Real Life, Europe
Rhiannon Ingle