Police in Cologne, Germany, have seized a robot after a 16-year-old boy allegedly used the device to sexually harass a girl of the same age at a fast-food restaurant late on Sunday night.
According to police, the girl was at the restaurant on Palmstrasse with two friends, aged 17 and 18, when the red-and-gold robot allegedly approached her from behind. Officers said the device touched the girl’s buttocks and made thrusting motions against her.
The incident allegedly took place between 11:45 p.m. and midnight and was livestreamed on social media by the 16-year-old boy and his 19-year-old companion, police said.
Officers arrested the two suspects at the junction of Magnusstrasse and Hohenzollernring. The robot, which stands approximately 3 feet 11 inches tall, was found in the boot of their Volkswagen and seized along with both suspects’ mobile phones.
Images of the device showed a red-and-gold design resembling Marvel superhero Iron Man, complete with what appeared to be a fake moustache. However, police did not confirm whether the robot had the same appearance during the alleged incident.
Investigators are examining whether the robot was remotely controlled and how it was operated during the encounter. Police said the criminal investigation department was investigating the case on suspicion of sexual harassment.
The investigation is ongoing, and the allegations against the two suspects have not been established in court.
