Cologne police have opened an investigation into the death of tragic Shelley College pupil Jane Khalaf.

The update was reported in the regional version of national German newspaper Bild, which ran a front page story on Jane after the Examiner broke the news about her shock death.

The report raised questions as to whether or not Jane, 19, who was on a placement from Northumbria University, was the victim of a date rape drugging attempt.

The concerns were raised after the discovery of amphetamine and ecstasy found in her blood after an initial autopsy.

According to the newspaper, officers said that they have not yet found any evidence of any third party involvement but had questioned fellow students who were with her before she died after being taken ill while celebrating the city’s carnival on November 11.

The city’s Attorney General, Ulrich Bremer, said: “We have opened an investigation into her death and have requested toxicological assessments.”

The piece does not make reference to the hospital treatment Jane received.

Her family in Huddersfield have raised concern over her care at the St Marien Hospital, where she collapsed and at the Kliniken der Stadt Koln, where she was taken and later died on November 20.

Gavin Scott, a Huddersfield ex-pat working as an English teacher in Cologne, explained the local reaction to the news.

He said: “Although my students found it tragic, they aren’t surprised.

“The opening day of Karneval attracts many thousands of people to Cologne and with that you do get the odd incident.

“I don’t think people see much wrong with how things panned out but the German press report has focused on the police investigation rather than hospital treatment.”

Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman, who pledged to investigate what happened to Jane, said that the Foreign Office’s staff had been in communication with the German ambassador and that he has been told that he will receive a letter from the office regarding the incident.

Meanwhile, Jane’s devastated mum thanked everyone for their support.

Rojin, who lives in Parkwood Close, Shelley, with Jane’s dad Khalil and their two other children, said: “We really appreciate everyone who has given us support, including the media, to help us find out what happened to Jane and we hope it enables answers to be found.”

Jane’s funeral will take place next Monday at the Markazi Jamia Masjid Riza mosque in Halifax Old Road, Birkby at 1pm and she will be buried at Castle Hill Cemetery.