German police have seized a robot allegedly used to grope a 16-year-old girl in Cologne, as investigations continue into a 16-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man suspected of controlling the device during the incident.
The robot, which police described as having grabbed the girl’s buttocks and made thrusting movements towards her, reportedly caused her to scream and move away while she was with friends near the city centre.
According to the North Rhine Westphalia Police, the incident occurred shortly before midnight on Saturday outside a fast-food outlet.
The girl was reportedly approached from behind by the 120cm-tall robot.
Police believe the teenage owner and his 19-year-old companion streamed the incident live on social media and made comments about what was happening.
Emergency services were alerted, leading officers to locate the two suspects a short distance from the scene.
The robot was subsequently found in the back of a car, where the teenage owner had allegedly placed it.
Images released by the police showed the red-and-gold robot wearing a black moustache, a gold-coloured chain and a white vest.
Officers also confiscated two mobile phones belonging to the suspects as part of the investigation.
Authorities are examining whether the robot’s movements were deliberately controlled by someone at the time of the alleged assault.
In a subsequent Facebook post, police cautioned social media users against inappropriate reactions to the case, warning that some comments “can be a crossing of the line and in the worst case, a criminal offense”.
