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France’s Fête de la Musique, a beloved national street music festival, was marred by a disturbing wave of possible syringe attacks this past weekend. Authorities have detained 12 individuals after 145 festival-goers reported being pricked with needles at various locations throughout the country, including at least 13 cases in Paris.
While the motive behind these “needle spiking” incidents remains unclear, the Interior Ministry has launched a serious investigation. Toxicology tests are underway to determine if victims were injected with substances like Rohypnol or GHB, commonly known as date-rape drugs. A spokeswoman for the ministry confirmed they are treating the situation with utmost gravity.
The attacks come as millions celebrated Fête de la Musique, with Paris experiencing record-breaking crowds. Police Chief Laurent Nuñez described the turnout as three to four times larger than usual.
Prior to the festival, social media posts circulating calls to target women with syringe attacks prompted warnings from feminist influencers. Nuñez condemned these online threats as “completely idiotic.”
Paris prosecutors have opened investigations into three separate incidents involving a 15-year-old girl, an 18-year-old man, and one other individual, all of whom reported feeling unwell after being pricked. Beyond the needle attacks, authorities arrested 371 people nationwide for various offenses during Saturday night’s festivities, with nearly 90 arrests occurring in Paris.