In a disturbing turn of events, approximately 150 festival-goers, mostly teenage girls, were reportedly attacked with syringes at a nationwide music festival in France last Saturday. Authorities have detained twelve individuals in connection with these alarming incidents.
Investigations are ongoing by local and national law enforcement agencies into the series of unsettling events. The alleged assailants, armed with syringes filled with an unidentified substance, targeted 145 victims at the Fêtes de la Musique, also known as World Music Day, celebrations held throughout the country. Several victims were hospitalized following the attacks.
The first reported incident took place at 9:15 p.m. on Rue du Palais in Metz, northeastern France, according to Mayor François Grosdidie. After receiving a report of a suspect involved in one of the attacks, authorities used security footage to locate and arrest the individual.
“The municipal police identified him on Rue Serpenoise, arrested him, and handed him over to the National Police and the Justice Department,” Grosdidie said. He expressed optimism that further investigation, including the examination of the suspect’s cellphone, would lead to the identification of other attackers.
Emergency services reacted promptly to each incident, deploying seven emergency vehicles and setting up a staging area for victims on Place d’Armes, Grosdidie added.
This year’s Fêtes de la Musique, an annual free music festival held on the summer solstice, was anticipated to attract record-breaking crowds. The festival showcases a mix of professional and amateur musicians performing at various venues, including parks and street corners in cities across the country. It was estimated that 50,000 people attended the concerts in Metz, while Paris experienced an influx of “unprecedented crowds.”
Despite warnings of the syringe attacks circulating on Snapchat and other social media platforms, millions of people across France attended the festival on Saturday evening. The Interior Ministry reported that 145 victims nationwide reported being stabbed with needles, with 13 cases being investigated in Paris.
Officials have not confirmed whether the syringes contained substances such as rohypnol or GHB, commonly used by sexual predators to incapacitate their victims. As of Sunday, at least three individuals reported feeling unwell after being attacked.
The Interior Ministry confirmed the arrest of 12 suspects believed to be involved in the attacks. A police source informed that the attackers are believed to have targeted around 50 victims.