Robot Allegedly Attacks Teenage Girl as Police Investigate Owner and Companion Who Filmed Incident

German police have seized a red-and-gold robot after it allegedly touched a 16-year-old girl's buttocks and made thrusting movements outside a fast-food restaurant in central Cologne. Investigators are examining the incident and how the machine was operated.

The robot's 16-year-old owner and his 19-year-old companion are suspected of filming the encounter, livestreaming it on social media and commentating as it unfolded, according to Cologne Police. Officers later located the pair and seized the robot and two mobile phones.

Police are investigating a suspected offence described in their statement as 'Beleidigung auf sexueller Grundlage.' Investigators are also examining whether someone deliberately controlled the robot's movements, but have not confirmed whether it was operated remotely or followed programmed instructions.

Robot Allegedly Approached Girl From Behind

According to a police statement published on 12 October, the incident occurred between 11:45pm and midnight on Saturday, 10 October. The girl was standing with two friends, aged 17 and 18, outside a fast-food restaurant at the junction of Palmstrasse and Hohenzollernring.

Police said the robot approached her from behind before allegedly touching her buttocks and making thrusting movements against her. The machine was approximately 1.2 metres tall and had a red-and-gold exterior.

The owner, a 16-year-old from Wegberg, and his 19-year-old companion are suspected of recording the encounter and broadcasting it live on social media. Police said the pair also provided commentary during the incident.

The Sun reported that footage circulating on TikTok appeared to show the robot approaching the girl, who then moved away. However, police have not publicly confirmed whether that clip is the same footage allegedly recorded by the suspects or explained what any recordings establish about the incident.

Police Seize Robot and Two Mobile Phones

Officers located the two individuals near the junction of Magnusstrasse and Hohenzollernring shortly after the incident, according to the police statement.

The robot was found in the boot of a Volkswagen after its owner had placed it there. Officers seized the machine and two mobile phones belonging to the suspects as part of their investigation.

The equipment could help investigators establish how the robot was operated and whether its movements were deliberately directed. Police have not identified its manufacturer or model, nor have they released findings from any technical examination.

German broadcaster Deutschlandfunk reported that investigators were examining whether the robot's movements had been deliberately controlled. The police statement similarly said its operation at the time of the incident remained under investigation.

Police Examine Robot's Operation

Cologne's criminal investigation department is investigating the suspected offence described by police as 'Beleidigung auf sexueller Grundlage.'

The German wording is important because translating it directly into an English legal category could be misleading. Some reports have described the investigation as involving suspected sexual harassment, but the police statement uses the original German term.

The investigation is focused on the alleged contact, the role of the two individuals and the way the robot was operating. Police have not announced conclusions about who controlled the machine or whether the alleged conduct was deliberately programmed.

The owner and his companion remain suspects, and the allegations have not been tested in court. The seizure of the robot and phones forms part of the ongoing investigation, with officers yet to publish their findings.

Police have not announced any conviction in connection with the incident.