Swiss police have arrested several people after a controversial futuristic-looking capsule designed to allow its occupant to commit suicide was used for the first time, authorities said on Tuesday. Police in the northern canton of Schaffhausen bordering Germany said the so-called "Sarco" capsule had been deployed in a wood in the municipality of Merishausen on Monday.

Criminal proceedings have been launched against “several people for incitement and aiding and abetting suicide,” police said.

The "Sarco" capsule is designed to allow a person sitting inside to push a button that injects nitrogen gas into the sealed chamber.