French police have detained twelve suspects after at least 145 people reported being pricked with syringes during the country’s annual Fête de la Musique, officials confirmed on Sunday.
The nationwide street music celebration, held on Saturday evening, drew millions of revellers, with authorities describing “unprecedented crowds” in Paris. In the days leading up to the event, disturbing posts on social media appeared to encourage attacks on women during the festivities.
The interior ministry said that 145 people across France had come forward alleging they had been stabbed with needles during the celebration. Thirteen of those cases were reported in Paris.
Authorities have not confirmed whether the attacks involved so-called needle spiking, where syringes are used to administer date rape drugs such as Rohypnol or GHB, substances that can leave victims disoriented, unconscious, and vulnerable to assault. “Some victims were taken to the hospital for toxicological tests,” the ministry said.
Paris prosecutors said investigations were underway after three separate victims, including a 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man, reported being stabbed with needles and feeling unwell afterwards.
Among the 12 suspects arrested nationwide, four were detained in Angoulême, south-western France, where they are suspected of having targeted up to 50 individuals, according to a police source. In total, over 370 people were arrested during the festival on various charges, including nearly 90 in Paris.
Fourteen festivalgoers were seriously injured during the event. One of them, a 17-year-old, was found sitting in the street with stab wounds to the lower abdomen and remains hospitalised.
Law enforcement also suffered injuries during the celebration, with thirteen officers reported hurt in the line of duty.
Despite these incidents, Laurent Nuñez, the prefect of Paris police, stated that “no major incident has been reported” during the festival.
About France music festival
The Fête de la Musique, held annually on 21 June, is one of France’s most cherished cultural events. However, this year’s celebrations have been overshadowed by concerns over public safety and the disturbing trend of syringe attacks, which have prompted widespread calls for more robust security measures at large gatherings.
