A disturbing wave of syringe attacks swept through France’s annual street music festival, Fête de la Musique, leaving 145 people injured and sparking a nationwide investigation. The incidents occurred across the country, with Paris police confirming at least 13 cases in the capital.
According to the interior ministry, the attacks involved individuals being pricked with syringes, potentially containing date-rape drugs like Rohypnol or GHB.
French authorities took the incidents seriously, with the interior ministry spokesperson stating, “The ministry is taking this very seriously. Toxicology tests are being done and the investigation is ongoing.”
The tests aim to determine whether the syringe attacks involved substances that can leave individuals disoriented, unconscious, and vulnerable to assault.
The Fête de la Musique drew millions of people to the streets, with officials describing the crowds in Paris as “unprecedented.” Laurent Nuñez, the Paris police chief, noted that there were three to four times as many people in Paris as normal.
In addition to the syringe attacks, police arrested 371 people across France on Saturday night for various incidents, nearly 90 of them in Paris.
Nuñez condemned the online calls for women to be targeted, calling them “completely idiotic.” “These are extremely serious incidents,” he emphasized. Twelve suspects were detained in connection with the attacks, including four individuals in the southwestern city of Angoulême believed to have targeted around 50 victims.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to determine the nature of the substances used in the syringe attacks. Some victims were taken to hospitals for toxicological tests, but no public toxicology results have been released.
In Paris, prosecutors opened investigations after three people, including a 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man, reported being pricked in separate incidents. All three victims reported feeling unwell afterward.
The incidents have raised concerns about safety at public events, and authorities are working to ensure that measures are in place to prevent similar incidents in the future. As the investigation continues, the public remains vigilant, and officials are urging anyone with information to come forward.