In Brief
- A 1.2-meter-tall red-and-gold robot allegedly approached a 16-year-old girl from behind, touched her buttocks, and made thrusting movements.
- The robot's 16-year-old owner and his 19-year-old companion allegedly filmed the encounter and livestreamed it on social media with commentary.
- Law enforcement officials located the robot hidden inside a car's boot, seizing the machine and two mobile phones as they investigate whether it was operated remotely.
German police have opened an unusual sexual harassment investigation following an incident involving a humanoid robot on a busy street in Cologne. The event unfolded late Saturday night outside a fast-food restaurant on Hohenzollernring, where a 16-year-old girl was standing with her friends.
According to investigators, a roughly 1.2-meter-tall robot—painted in red and gold—approached the teenager from behind, touched her buttocks, and made inappropriate thrusting motions. Two young men, identified as the robot's 16-year-old owner and a 19-year-old companion, allegedly recorded the encounter and livestreamed it online while acting as commentators.
Following a report made by the victim, Cologne police tracked down the suspects nearby. Officers discovered the robot hidden inside the trunk of a Volkswagen vehicle and confiscated both the machine and the suspects' mobile phones.
Authorities are examining digital evidence and reviewing whether the device was being manipulated in real time to target the individual. Police representatives noted that the case presents entirely unprecedented legal and technological territory for local investigators.
