German authorities have initiated an inquiry into potential sexual harassment following an incident where a robot operated by two young men allegedly touched a 16-year-old girl’s buttocks and engaged in thrusting movements toward her, according to police reports. The authorities in the city of Cologne responded to the situation that occurred overnight from Saturday to Sunday, where the suspected 16-year-old owner of the robot and his 19-year-old companion reportedly filmed the supposed assault.
The two male teenagers, considered suspects, have not yet faced charges, as investigators are exploring whether the robot’s actions were pre-programmed or controlled in real-time. The police spokesperson, Christoph Bermel, mentioned that such an occurrence was unfamiliar to law enforcement, describing it as “new territory” for them.
Emergency teams dispatched to the scene near a fast-food establishment discovered the robot in a vehicle’s trunk, as stated by Cologne police in a released statement. The robot and the mobile phones of the two young men were seized during the investigation.
The robot, approximately four feet tall, was attired in a white tank top, black sweatpants, a gold chain, sunglasses, and a fake moustache. Videos circulating online depict the two individuals leading the robot towards a group of women on a lively nighttime street, where it made inappropriate gestures and interacted with the women. The police, on their Facebook page, condemned inappropriate remarks and cautioned against sharing or joking about such incidents due to the potential negative impact on any victims.