Latest news with #Grosdidier
NBC News
24-06-2025
- NBC News
Over a hundred people jabbed with syringes at French music festival
Nearly 150 people were jabbed with syringes during a street music festival in France, the country's interior ministry said, adding that authorities had arrested at least 12 suspects. Across France, millions of people spilled out into the streets over the weekend to celebrate the annual music festival Fête de la Musique. In the French capital of Paris, authorities reported that there were three to four times as many people in public as normal. The needle attacks involved 145 victims, including 13 cases in Paris, the French Interior Ministry told NBC News in a statement, adding that at least 12 people had been arrested. In the northeastern French city of Metz, local police arrested two individuals, including a 'syringe attacker,' during the festival that broke all attendance records, Mayor François Grosdidier said in a post on Instagram. 'Risks are always present in we had to deal with syringe attacks,' Grosdidier wrote. The first syringe attack in Metz was reported at about 9:15 p.m. local time, he said, adding that the victims included 15 young women between the ages of 14 and 20. The suspected syringe attacker had been arrested and handed over the National Police for further investigations, he added. "I hope that the investigation, particularly through the examination of his cell phone, will lead to the identification of other attackers," Grosdidier said. French officials did not say if these were cases of 'needle spiking,' which typically see attackers inject victims with date-rape drugs such as Rohypnol or GHB, typically in the arm, leg or buttocks, leaving them disoriented and vulnerable to assault. Warnings about the attacks first appeared on TikTok from social media influencer Abrège Soeur, who said in a post on Saturday that "Men are planning to attack and sting women at the Fête de la Musique on June 21st." Soeur, who describes herself as a feminist, suggested that women in danger during the festival use "H&M" as a code. "Approach the person and ask, 'Where's your top from?' If they answer 'H&M,' it means they need help," Soeur said. If "you are in danger, hail someone over and ask, 'Where's your top from? H&M, right?'" she added. This year's summer music festival season in Paris has brought with it renewed fears of syringe attacks after a wave of reports in 2022. At the time, the French government put out alerts advising people to stay vigilant, go to the police, and take a toxicology test if they suspected they had been drugged by a needle prick. More than 370 people were arrested on various charges during the festival that year, including nearly 90 in Paris. Among the 14 seriously injured festival-goers was a 17-year-old who was hospitalized from wounds to the lower abdomen, according to news agency Agence France-Presse.
Vancouver Sun
23-06-2025
- Vancouver Sun
145 people reportedly attacked with syringes at a street festival, 12 suspects arrested
A total of 145 people in France were reportedly assaulted with syringes while attending a country-wide street music festival over the weekend. The festival, called Fete de la Musique, took place at locations across the country and attracted millions of festival-goers, according to French media such as France24 and RFI . Overall, there were 12 arrests related to the syringe attacks, the interior ministry said. On June 21, Paris firefighters said they were receiving a large number of calls related to high attendance at the festival in a post on X . According to Paris police, there were 13 cases of people saying they were pricked in the capital, The Guardian reported . It was not revealed by authorities what the contents of the syringes were; however, the interior ministry said some victims were taken to hospital for toxicology tests. French publication France Info reported that investigations were opened after three victims, a including an 18-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl, became ill. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Meanwhile, François Grosdidier, the mayor of Metz, a city in northeastern France, said there had been a 'call for syringe assaults' on social media in the major cities where the festival was taking place. At 9:15 p.m., Grosdidier said the first such assault was reported in Metz. The victims were approximately 15 young girls between the ages of 14 and 20 years old. Using video footage of a suspect, police were able to identify and arrest him. Grosdidier said he hopes the investigation will help authorities identify other assailants. A post shared by François Grosdidier (@francois_grosdidier) Grosdidier also said that police arrested an individual who slapped a young girl and broke up some fights in the area, likely provoked by alcohol consumption. He posted a series of photos from the festival that showed him speaking with authorities. French media such as Le Monde as well as The Guardian corroborated Grosdidier's point that there were calls on social media platforms to assault festival-goers with syringes. The attacks were wide-ranging, with four arrests in the southwestern city of Angoulême and roughly 50 victims . In the Normandy region, several women in Évreux and Rouen were reportedly pricked with needles, per French media site Ici . Investigations were opened and it was not immediately clear if the syringes had any substances inside them. In the city of Tours, Ici reported that there were 13 people who were victims of a syringe attack. There were also attacks reported in the northeastern city of Thionville and commune of Sarreguemines . In Vesoul, a commune in eastern France, the local trade association posted a warning on Facebook . 'For several months, numerous cases of syringe attacks have been reported throughout France, often during festivals or soirées,' the caption of the post said in French, adding that the syringes could be filled with dangerous substances. A video accompanying the post said that those pricked with a syringe may feel suddenly ill or suffer from dizziness. It urged festival-goers to be vigilant. There were more than 370 people detained throughout the festival weekend across France for a variety of charges, according to Agence France-Presse. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Edmonton Journal
23-06-2025
- Edmonton Journal
145 people reportedly attacked with syringes at a street festival, 12 suspects arrested
Article content On June 21, Paris firefighters said they were receiving a large number of calls related to high attendance at the festival in a post on X. According to Paris police, there were 13 cases of people saying they were pricked in the capital, The Guardian reported. It was not revealed by authorities what the contents of the syringes were; however, the interior ministry said some victims were taken to hospital for toxicology tests. French publication France Info reported that investigations were opened after three victims, a including an 18-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl, became ill. Meanwhile, François Grosdidier, the mayor of Metz, a city in northeastern France, said there had been a 'call for syringe assaults' on social media in the major cities where the festival was taking place. At 9:15 p.m., Grosdidier said the first such assault was reported in Metz. The victims were approximately 15 young girls between the ages of 14 and 20 years old. Using video footage of a suspect, police were able to identify and arrest him. Grosdidier said he hopes the investigation will help authorities identify other assailants.
Calgary Herald
23-06-2025
- Calgary Herald
145 people reportedly attacked with syringes at a street festival, 12 suspects arrested
A total of 145 people in France were reportedly assaulted with syringes while attending a country-wide street music festival over the weekend. Article content The festival, called Fete de la Musique, took place at locations across the country and attracted millions of festival-goers, according to French media such as France24 and RFI. Overall, there were 12 arrests related to the syringe attacks, the interior ministry said. Article content Article content Article content On June 21, Paris firefighters said they were receiving a large number of calls related to high attendance at the festival in a post on X. According to Paris police, there were 13 cases of people saying they were pricked in the capital, The Guardian reported. It was not revealed by authorities what the contents of the syringes were; however, the interior ministry said some victims were taken to hospital for toxicology tests. French publication France Info reported that investigations were opened after three victims, a including an 18-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl, became ill. Article content Article content Meanwhile, François Grosdidier, the mayor of Metz, a city in northeastern France, said there had been a 'call for syringe assaults' on social media in the major cities where the festival was taking place. At 9:15 p.m., Grosdidier said the first such assault was reported in Metz. The victims were approximately 15 young girls between the ages of 14 and 20 years old. Article content Using video footage of a suspect, police were able to identify and arrest him. Grosdidier said he hopes the investigation will help authorities identify other assailants. Article content Article content View this post on Instagram A post shared by François Grosdidier (@francois_grosdidier) Article content Grosdidier also said that police arrested an individual who slapped a young girl and broke up some fights in the area, likely provoked by alcohol consumption. He posted a series of photos from the festival that showed him speaking with authorities. Article content Article content French media such as Le Monde as well as The Guardian corroborated Grosdidier's point that there were calls on social media platforms to assault festival-goers with syringes. Article content The attacks were wide-ranging, with four arrests in the southwestern city of Angoulême and roughly 50 victims. In the Normandy region, several women in Évreux and Rouen were reportedly pricked with needles, per French media site Ici. Investigations were opened and it was not immediately clear if the syringes had any substances inside them.
Global News
23-06-2025
- Global News
145 people stabbed with syringes at France music festival, 12 arrested
French police have arrested 12 suspects after 145 people reported being stabbed with syringes at a music festival in France on Saturday, leading to the hospitalization of more than a dozen young women. Metz Mayor François Grosdidier said a call was made to police around 9:15 p.m. local time about 'syringe attacks' during the French music festival Fête de la Musique, where millions of people took to the streets across France. Grosdidier said that when authorities responded to Rue du Palais in La Rochelle, multiple girls and women between the ages of 14 and 20 were found to be victims of the syringe attacks. He said the victims were transported to a local hospital for further care after they were treated by emergency responders at the scene. The potentially injected substance, which has not been disclosed, remains under investigation as the Interior Ministry waits for the toxicological test results. Story continues below advertisement 'I hope that the investigation, particularly through the examination of his cellphone, will lead to the identification of other attackers,' Grosdidier added. The 12 suspects were arrested across France, according to the Interior Ministry. Four people in the city of Angouleme were reportedly suspected of having targeted around 50 victims. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Police said there were more than 370 people detained during the festival on various charges. View image in full screen Thousands of people gather at the Chatelet district and on the banks of the Seine to celebrate Fête de La Musique 2025 as bands and DJs play across Paris, France on June 21, 2025. Luc Auffret/Anadolu via Getty Images Before the free music festival began, French feminist influencer Abrège Soeur warned the public online that there had been calls on social media for women to be targeted with syringes during the festivities. (Soeur did not clarify how she came across this information, or where she saw it online.) Story continues below advertisement She suggested an alert code be used 'to protect women' and warned others to use the code if they saw anyone in danger. The proposed code, for anybody who appeared to be in danger, was to be asked if they bought their shirt at the clothing store H&M. If they responded with a different brand, that meant they were not in danger. She also suggested that if someone was in danger, to add 'H&M, right?' to help identify that they needed help. A similar incident took place in June 2022, when several suspects around France were detained or given preliminary charges for allegedly pricking people with a needle in nightclubs or at concerts following a surge in needle attacks that seeded panic among young clubgoers. Story continues below advertisement At the time, the French Interior Ministry, prosecutors, the national anti-drug agency, public health authorities and doctors had not determined a motive for the attacks, or whether the victims were injected with drugs, viruses or any substance at all. From January to June 2022, 1,004 people filed formal complaints with French authorities about the needle pricks, according to the Interior Ministry. In those cases that resulted in charges, medical tests did not reveal any signs of harmful substances, including so-called date rape drug GHB, authorities said. The suspects have denied all allegations. At the time, the targeted individuals, who were mostly women, had visible marks of injection, often bruises, and reported symptoms like feeling groggy. The ministry official urged caution in assuming a link between the needle pricks and GHB. The investigation into the Fête de la Musique stabbings is ongoing. — With files from The Associated Press
