On Sunday, French police took 12 people into custody after 145 individuals reported being pricked with syringes during the annual Fête de la Musique street festival, as stated by France’s Interior Ministry. These unsettling incidents occurred nationwide, with Paris police confirming at least 13 cases in the capital, where officials noted “unprecedented crowds.”
Officials from the Interior Ministry mentioned that toxicology tests are currently being conducted to check for the presence of date-rape drugs like Rohypnol or GHB, which can leave victims feeling disoriented or unconscious. Several victims, including underage girls and women, have been hospitalized, with reports suggesting that the drugs made them vulnerable to sexual assault. The ministry stressed that they are taking this situation “very seriously.”
Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez described the incidents as “extremely serious” and criticized social media posts that encouraged syringe attacks as “completely idiotic.” Influencers like Abrège Soeur had previously warned that women might be at risk during the festival.
In Metz, two suspects were arrested after 17 girls aged 14 to 20 reported being jabbed. Mayor François Grosdidier confirmed that police utilized video surveillance to identify and apprehend one attacker on Rue Serpenoise. The investigation will also focus on digital evidence, including the suspect's phone.
Prosecutors in Paris have launched investigations into separate cases involving a 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man, both of whom reported feeling unwell after being pricked.
Overall, 371 people were arrested across France during the festival for various offenses, with nearly 90 of those arrests occurring in Paris. Fourteen festivalgoers sustained serious injuries, including a 17-year-old who was found with stab wounds. Thirteen law enforcement officers were also injured.
Similar incidents of syringe attacks have been reported in France before, particularly in June 2022, when over 400 reports were made, 80% of which involved women. Spain and the UK have also experienced waves of unexplained needle assaults in recent times.