Suddenly Unconscious at the 'Rave by the Lake': Police Investigate Suspicion of Knockout Drops

At the 'Rave by the Lake' at Gelterswoog in Kaiserslautern, two women became unconscious one after the other on Saturday evening after sharing a drink. The police are investigating a 32-year-old man on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. According to investigators, it has not yet been confirmed whether knockout drops or another substance were actually involved.

Around 300 people celebrated at Gelterswoog in summery temperatures. However, for two female visitors aged 44 and 46, the evening ended with a medical emergency: According to current investigations, both lost consciousness at different times and had to be treated.

Suspicious Man Removed from the Premises

The focus of the investigation is a 32-year-old man. According to the police, he had previously harassed the two women several times: He repeatedly approached them in an intrusive manner and ignored rejections. Security staff observed the behavior over a period of time, initially expelled the man from the premises, and called the police when he did not follow instructions.

The officers enforced an expulsion order and removed the man from the festival grounds. He was temporarily detained. He is now under investigation on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.

Cause of Collapses Still Unclear

The central point remains unresolved: The police state that it is not yet certain what caused the two women to lose consciousness. Even though suspicion of knockout drops quickly arises in such situations, there is currently no confirmation of this; nor has any other substance been detected so far.

For the investigators, this means carefully distinguishing between different causes: In addition to possible tampering with a drink, circumstances such as heat and alcohol are also being considered. Whether and what can be determined toxicologically is crucial for further classification—and is currently the subject of ongoing investigations.

No Further Similar Incidents So Far

No other comparable cases from the event have been reported so far. The police are reconstructing the course of the evening and examining clues to clarify how the collapses occurred and what role the 32-year-old actually played.

What is currently certain: Two women had to receive medical treatment after losing consciousness, and there is an investigation against a suspect. What caused the acute symptoms is not yet clear—that is exactly what the investigation is now supposed to determine.