German Police Probe Alleged Sexual Harassment Involving Robot in Cologne

German police have launched an investigation into a suspected case of sexual harassment involving a robot allegedly used to touch a 16-year-old girl in the western city of Cologne.

The incident reportedly occurred overnight from Saturday to Sunday, when the robot allegedly touched the girl's buttocks and made thrusting movements towards her, police said. The robot's suspected owner, a 16-year-old boy, and his 19-year-old companion allegedly filmed the incident and streamed it online while commenting on the events.

Cologne police spokesman Christoph Bermel said the two young men had not been charged but were being treated as suspects. Investigators are examining whether the robot's movements were preprogrammed or controlled in real time.

"We have not been aware of this phenomenon so far," Bermel told The Associated Press, describing the case as "new territory" for police.

Emergency teams dispatched to the scene near a fast-food restaurant found the robot inside the trunk of a vehicle, according to a police statement issued on Monday. Officers seized the robot and the mobile phones belonging to the two young men as part of the investigation.

North Rhine-Westphalia Police Cologne also shared an image of the robot on Facebook. The red-and-gold machine, measuring around 120 cm (3 feet 11 inches) in height, was dressed in a white tank top and black sweatpants. It also wore a gold chain, sunglasses and what appeared to be a fake moustache.

Videos circulating online purportedly show two young men escorting the robot towards a group of women on a busy nighttime street. The robot appears to bump into one woman and hug others. In the footage, one of the men repeatedly shouts at the robot and pulls it backwards after it makes sexual gestures, prompting laughter among people nearby.

On Tuesday, Cologne police criticised inappropriate online comments about the incident. Officers warned that sharing or joking about such incidents can further harm the alleged victim.

The investigation is continuing, with police seeking to establish how the robot was operated and the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault.