French authorities have arrested at least 12 individuals following reports from 145 people who claimed to have been attacked with syringes during street music festivals over the weekend.
On Saturday night, millions celebrated the Fête de la Musique (“Music Festival”) across France.
The Interior Ministry reported that 145 victims nationwide indicated they were pricked with syringes during outdoor music events.
In Paris, police logged 13 incidents, including cases involving a 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old boy, as reported by The Guardian.
Among the 12 arrested, four suspects were taken into custody in the southwestern city of Angoulême, linked to around 50 reported victims. Additionally, two individuals were detained in the northwestern city of Metz, where the affected parties were minors.
Reports of similar incidents also came from Évreux and Rouen in Normandy, while in Tours, 13 women claimed to have been pricked with a syringe.
Authorities did not clarify if the syringes contained substances typically associated with sexual assaults but confirmed that some victims underwent hospital toxicological testing.
Before the festival, feminist influencer Abrège Soeur had issued a cautionary message online about social media posts encouraging syringe attacks against women. However, the origin and authenticity of these posts remain unclear.
In 2022, similar reports emerged involving syringe attacks against both women and men at various venues, including clubs, bars, music events, and theaters. The government urged people to stay alert, report any incidents to police immediately, and seek toxicological testing if they suspect they might have been drugged by a syringe prick.
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