Germany investigates accusation that women were drugged at premier party party

German police are investigating allegations that at least nine women who attended a Social Democratic Party (SPD) party last Wednesday were allegedly drugged in a sort of “good night, Cinderella” scam.

The SPD confirmed the reports to AFP on Saturday, with a party spokesman saying the case had generated “a very big commotion”. The information had initially been published by the Berlin daily Tagesspiegel.

Berlin police said they were investigating a case of grievous bodily harm following a complaint made by a 21-year-old girl. So far there would have been nine victims notified, but the legend’s spokesperson did not exclude the possibility that there are more cases.

In an email to participants at the party, held near the government headquarters, the SPD denounced “a monstrous act immediately reported to the Bundestag police.” [Parlamento alemão]Katja Mast, one of the party’s leaders, even wrote on Twitter: “I advise everyone involved to file a complaint. [à polícia]”.

Nearly 1,000 people reportedly attended the traditional SPD party before the parliamentary summer recess. According to the spokesperson, he told AFP, it was an internal event, to which only those who had an invitation could enter. German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz, who is from the legend, was at the event.

Police said in a statement, the 21-year-old whose case triggered the investigation, filed a complaint the day after the party, after going to the hospital for tests. During the event, she felt sick, nauseous and dizzy, even without having ingested alcoholic beverages – she says she doesn’t remember what happened at the place.

So far, the police have officially registered four other cases – the number of nine was cited by the SPD itself. The corporation cited, in its statement, only a “summer party of a political party”, without mentioning the name of the legend.

The main suspicion is that the women were victims of one of the so-called “rape drugs”. These psychotropic substances, such as benzodiazepines, can cause nausea and dizziness and, in scams like the “good night, Cinderella”, they are surreptitiously placed in people’s glasses – who, under the influence of the drug, are more subject to abuse through violence, theft or sexual assault.

In 2021, 22 cases of aggression with this type of substance were registered in Berlin, a city known for its parties, according to the newspaper Berliner Zeitung. The number, however, may be higher, as many victims do not remember the aggression they suffered or are ashamed to report it.