Police Seize Robot After Bizarre Incident in Cologne

Cologne police have confirmed one of the strangest seizures you'll hear about this week: a humanoid robot, taken into evidence after an alleged incident outside a fast-food restaurant in Cologne, Germany.

According to police statements, the incident happened shortly before midnight on the night leading into Sunday, October 11, at the corner of Palmstraße and Hohenzollernring. Police say the robot — a red-and-gold humanoid machine about 3'11" tall, dressed in a white vest, a gold chain, and a stick-on mustache — allegedly approached a 16-year-old girl from behind.

Two teenagers were with the robot: a 16-year-old identified by police as its owner, and his 19-year-old companion. Police say the pair allegedly livestreamed the whole thing with commentary.

Officers seized the robot from the boot of a Volkswagen, along with two mobile phones. Both teens were arrested but remain under investigation — no charges have been announced.

The central question investigators still haven't answered: was someone deliberately controlling the robot's movements, or was it acting on its own? That distinction, police acknowledge, is everything — and it remains unresolved.

All allegations in this story are attributed to police statements and reporting. The investigation is ongoing.

So here's the question SNUBBZ wants answered: who's responsible when a robot crosses the line — the operator, or the technology? Drop your take in the comments.