Date-rape drugs shock at German chancellor’s summer party
- At least nine women were given the drug at the annual invite-only event attended by Chancellor Olaf Scholz and MPs in Berlin
- Police opened an investigation of persons unknown on suspicion of bodily harm. German media reported that the women were apparently victims of ‘knockout drops’
German police are investigating after several women reported feeling unwell following an event hosted by the parliamentary group of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party.
Berlin police said on Saturday that the investigation was triggered by a 21-year-old woman, who felt dizzy and unwell several hours into Wednesday’s summer party for the Social Democrats and then was unable to remember the evening the following day. She went to a hospital for checks, and police ordered a blood test for an analysis of possible toxic substances.
The woman ate and drank at the event, but did not consume any alcohol, police said. By Saturday morning, another four cases in which people reported similar symptoms had emerged. German media reported that they apparently were victims of “knockout drops,” which can be mixed into drinks or food. Police said they were awaiting test results.
Police opened an investigation of persons unknown on suspicion of bodily harm. Both they and the centre-left Social Democrats said they were not aware of any offences beyond that.
The Social Democrats’ co-leader, Lars Klingbeil, told Welt television he was “furious that something like this could happen at an event” organised by the party. He said the parliamentary group’s leadership is cooperating with authorities and he hopes “that the perpetrator or perpetrators can be caught and then brought to account.”
About 1,000 people attended the annual party on Wednesday, including the chancellor, party politicians and their employees.