German police investigate a robot harassing a girl

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A 16-year-old girl was sexually harassed by a robot in Cologne, Germany.

Police in the western German city reported that the robot touched the girl's buttocks and made movements (with sexual connotations) by pushing forward and backward. The police are currently investigating the incident on suspicion of directing an insult of a sexual nature.

The girl was standing in front of a fast food restaurant, on the night of Saturday to Sunday, with two friends, when the robot, which was distinguished by its red and gold colours, approached her from behind. It is suspected that the owner of the device, a 16-year-old from the city of Wegberg, neighboring Cologne, and his 19-year-old companion, filmed the incident and broadcast it live on social media, commenting on it during the broadcast.

A short time later, police officers were able to arrest the two suspects near the site of the incident. They found the robot, which is 1.20 meters high, inside the luggage compartment of a car in which the younger boy was suspected to have been placed. In addition to the robot, the police confiscated the two mobile phones owned by the suspects.

Police are now investigating whether the robot's movements were intentionally directed.