Cologne police confiscated a robot suspected of groping a 16-year-old girl

Police in Cologne confiscated a 1.20-meter-tall robot after it allegedly touched a 16-year-old girl and made sexually suggestive gestures toward her. The incident occurred on the night of October 10–11, 2026, in the center of the German city, while the girl was outside a restaurant with two friends.

According to Cologne police, the red-and-gold robot was wearing a white tank top, a gold chain and a fake mustache. Its owner, a 16-year-old boy, and a 19-year-old man are suspected of filming the scene, livestreaming it on social media and commenting on the incident.

The two were found near the scene, but the robot had disappeared. Police later discovered it hidden in the trunk of a Volkswagen vehicle. In addition to the robot, investigators confiscated two mobile phones.

Police are checking whether the device was deliberately directed toward the girl or whether it performed movements that had been programmed in advance. Establishing this is important for determining the responsibility of the two suspects. They have not been formally charged, and the investigation concerns a possible offense of sexually insulting behavior. German authorities say they have not previously encountered a similar case.