At least 9 women given date-rape drug at SPD event attended by Scholz
Berlin police say officers are investigating allegations of serious bodily injuries following a complaint filed by a 21-year-old woman that attended the SDF's summer party.
-
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (Credits: Getty)
At least nine women were given a date-rape drug at an invite-only event attended by Chancellor Olaf Scholz and MPs, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) confirmed Saturday.
SPD co-leader Lars Klingbeil said that he was "shocked" at the news.
"It makes me angry such a thing could happen at an event organized by the SPD," he told the Die Welt daily, adding that he hoped those responsible would be detained and investigated.
A spokesperson for the SPD's parliamentary group told AFP that "There's quite a lot of emotion," confirming a report in the Berlin newspaper Tagesspiegel.
Berlin police said officers were investigating allegations of serious bodily injuries after a 21-year-old woman filed a complaint following "a political party's summer party."
She went for hospital tests the following day, having only consumed food and non-alcoholic drinks at the event.
"I advise all those concerned to file a complaint," SPD's Katja Mast said on Twitter.
SPD spokesperson did not rule out further cases
The spokesperson did not rule out further cases adding to the nine already declared, according to the SPD.
The SPD sent out an email to all those invited to the event on Wednesday night condemning a "monstrous act which we immediately declared to parliamentary police."
About 1,000 people joined the German chancellor and MPs at the SPD's traditional summer bash ahead of the parliamentary recess.
"It was an internal event. You could only get in with an invitation," said the spokesperson, noting that "There's still a lot of uncertainty, the police are investigating."
Victim had no memory of the party: Berlin police
In a statement, Berlin police indicated that the woman who filed the complaint had no memory of the party the next day, prompting her to obtain a medical exam and file the complaint.
The woman told police that she felt nauseous and dizzy during the event after consuming food and non-alcoholic beverages.
Date-rape drugs are usually used to spike drinks or food and can leave victims confused and unable to defend themselves against assault.
According to the Berliner Zeitung daily, Berlin police reported 22 cases involving date-rape drugs in 2021.
The true number is likely to be far higher, with victims often unable to recall exactly what happened or ashamed to make a complaint.
