According to Cologne Police, the incident occurred late on Saturday (October 10), when a red-and-gold robot, approximately 120 centimetres tall, approached the girl from behind as she stood with friends near the city centre.
The robot allegedly touched and slapped the girl on the buttocks, causing her to scream and flee the scene.
Police have identified two suspects, aged 16 and 19, who are believed to have been involved in operating the robot.
Investigators suspect the two teenagers livestreamed the incident on social media while commenting on the events as they unfolded.
Following an emergency call, police officers located the suspects nearby and discovered the robot in the back of a parked vehicle belonging to the 16-year-old suspect.
Officers subsequently seized the robot and two mobile phones as evidence.
Authorities are now examining whether the robot’s movements were deliberately controlled remotely by an operator or resulted from preprogrammed actions.
The incident has raised concerns about the potential misuse of robotic technology and the question of legal accountability when machines are allegedly used to commit offences.
Police investigations are ongoing, and responsibility for the alleged assault has yet to be established.
