Syringe attacks disrupt France's Fête de la Musique, leaving 145 victims
Image: Pexels/Wendy Wei
This year's Fête de la Musique (World Music Day), an annual celebration in France that attracts millions to the streets for a night of music and partying, has been tainted by a series of disturbing syringe attacks that have left 145 people reporting pricks from needles.
Officials confirmed on Sunday, June 22, that 12 suspects have been detained in connection with incidents that unfolded during the festivities on Saturday evening, where Paris witnessed 'unprecedented crowds.'
Social media heightened concerns before the festivities, with warnings from French influencer Abrège Soeur about posts that had emerged calling for women to be targeted.
The influencer urged caution ahead of the festival, highlighting the growing unease surrounding the potential for syringe-related attacks.
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According to reports, among the victims, at least 12 young women aged between 14 and 20 were hospitalised.
The French interior ministry confirmed that a total of 145 cases of reported stabbings had emerged across the nation, with 13 such incidents specifically in Paris.
Some victims experienced adverse symptoms, leading them to seek medical attention for toxicology tests.
However, authorities have yet to disclose whether the incidents involved the use of date-rape drugs commonly associated with needle spiking, such as Rohypnol or Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB).
Reports also reveal that French police in Paris launched investigations following the hospitalisation of three individuals, including a 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old male, all of whom reported feeling unwell shortly after being stabbed in separate incidents.
The interior ministry confirmed the active investigation, with toxicology tests underway.
France Music Festival turns out an opportunity for Syringe Terror.
Unknown gang stab needle to more than 145 women in festival. Authorities believe it may be Date Rape Drug.
When you welcome refugees in the name of secularism this is bound to happen.pic.twitter.com/P7PWi26S2u — Dr AishwaryaS (@Aish17aer) June 24, 2025
According to reports, the twelve suspects arrested include four individuals detained in the southwestern city of Angoulême, suspected of targeting around 50 of the reported victims.
Additionally, the festival saw over 370 participants detained for various offences, including nearly 90 arrests in Paris alone.
Among the more grievous incidents, a 17-year-old was hospitalised with stab wounds to the lower abdomen, while thirteen law enforcement officers also sustained injuries during the festivities.
Laurent Nunez, the prefect of Paris police, remarked to the media on the seriousness of the incidents, asserting, 'These are extremely serious incidents.'
He condemned the calls to inject women as 'completely idiotic,' reflecting the growing anxieties around public safety during major events.
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